tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84305194420662453452018-05-23T08:51:14.131+01:00Bookworm Blogger #YAYour gateway to #YA, since 2011Charlotte Blacknoreply@blogger.comBlogger385125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430519442066245345.post-45242861501368710952017-08-26T15:38:00.001+01:002017-08-26T15:38:54.182+01:00*Book Blitz* & Author Q&A - Battle Cry & Battle Cry 2 by J.L. Snyder<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K7XEZsZ_PcI/WaF8UfhBvjI/AAAAAAAAC3g/au1Hivbe3OkwlM_Sag_Y21Dh-eCwNnYWgCLcBGAs/s1600/Battle%2BCry%2Bfront%2Bcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1036" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K7XEZsZ_PcI/WaF8UfhBvjI/AAAAAAAAC3g/au1Hivbe3OkwlM_Sag_Y21Dh-eCwNnYWgCLcBGAs/s320/Battle%2BCry%2Bfront%2Bcover.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Battle Cry</b></span></div></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><b>by J.L. Snyder</b></h3><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Publisher:</b> Bookstand Publishing</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Date of Publishing:</b> July 12th 2012</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Genre: </b>YA Fantasy</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Suggested Ages:</b> 12+</div><i><br /></i><i>16 year old Kaí-Ling was raised in the ways of the sword. The child of a former samurai warrior and an American mother embarks on a journey to right the wrongs life has dealt her. The lifelong lessons and skills she acquires as well as the friends she makes along the way aid her in her quest to fulfill her destiny. Robbed of her father’s love before she was born, Kaí-Ling now seeks vengeance upon those who took him from her. </i><br /><i></i><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><h3><span style="font-size: large;"><b>&nbsp;</b></span></h3><h3><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Watch the Trailer:</b></span></h3></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KmsLL8LBpnU/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KmsLL8LBpnU?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp; <b>Read and Buy Here:</b></span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16213844-battle-cry" target="_blank"><img alt="Goodreads" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GxCjjUEATuM/WLAYL9FsTMI/AAAAAAAACKk/PXU1yXP6aQUH3faZzOca4XLXZSXNogc5gCPcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a><a href="http://amzn.to/2xBx3Q4" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0050P3YXA/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B0050P3YXA&amp;linkId=d1aeae602612d078852f8f93bbe8fd08" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V7vDRCSo-Oo/WLAYLVV5jiI/AAAAAAAACKk/RMtNCa6Ark4Y3NQ0LItazDZkvN7Dy6nYgCPcB/s1600/amazon.png" /></a><a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/r1101uoxuowBKFEIKELBDEFELEDI?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%2Fw%2Fbattle-cry-j-l-snyder%2F1112109706%3Fean%3D2940016700298&amp;cjsku=2940016700298" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.kqzyfj.com/qd122uoxuowBKFEIKELBDDKDDHLJ?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%2Fw%2Ftoonopolis-jeremy-rodden%2F1101314250%3Fean%3D9780983425397&amp;cjsku=9780983425397" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JxWtVnGXxU4/WLAYLjwYsrI/AAAAAAAACKk/LzDQL6wSUSA-s47jHr0LZKyL0ifZ1WUJQCPcB/s1600/barnes-and-noble.png" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CzGEsYVqnDI/WaF8TlTJN6I/AAAAAAAAC3s/bVOdLJCs68chCrzra2-fqpT9ESaFoINCACEwYBhgL/s1600/Battle%2BCry%2B2%2BFinal%2Bcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="324" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CzGEsYVqnDI/WaF8TlTJN6I/AAAAAAAAC3s/bVOdLJCs68chCrzra2-fqpT9ESaFoINCACEwYBhgL/s320/Battle%2BCry%2B2%2BFinal%2Bcover.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K7XEZsZ_PcI/WaF8UfhBvjI/AAAAAAAAC3g/au1Hivbe3OkwlM_Sag_Y21Dh-eCwNnYWgCLcBGAs/s1600/Battle%2BCry%2Bfront%2Bcover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Battle Cry 2 - Shadow of the Sword</b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><b>by J.L. Snyder</b></h3><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Publisher:</b> Bookstand Publishing</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Date of Publishing:</b> August 20th 2015 </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Genre: </b>YA Fantasy</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Suggested Ages:</b> 12+</div><i><br />Fate dealt a heavy blow to Kai-Ling before she was even born. The death of her father, a man she never knew, haunted her every day as she grew up. Struck down in the prime of his life, Kai-Ling's father was never able to know his daughter. He was never able to watch her grow up or give her the love only a father could. Now that the first part of her journey is behind her, Kai-Ling is ready to face her destiny. Using the skills, training and knowledge she has acquired, she is prepared to enact vengeance upon those who took him from her. How Kai-Ling handles the new challenges and pitfalls on her way to seeking revenge is a testament to everything she has learned.</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><h3><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Watch the Trailer:</b></span></h3></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MjLV1eY9IkI/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MjLV1eY9IkI?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><h3><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp; <b>Read and Buy Here:</b></span></h3></div><div class="column"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26275164-battle-cry-2-shadow-of-the-sword" target="_blank"><img alt="Goodreads" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GxCjjUEATuM/WLAYL9FsTMI/AAAAAAAACKk/PXU1yXP6aQUH3faZzOca4XLXZSXNogc5gCPcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a><a href="http://amzn.to/2vfQDVe" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0050P3YXA/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B0050P3YXA&amp;linkId=d1aeae602612d078852f8f93bbe8fd08" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V7vDRCSo-Oo/WLAYLVV5jiI/AAAAAAAACKk/RMtNCa6Ark4Y3NQ0LItazDZkvN7Dy6nYgCPcB/s1600/amazon.png" /></a><a href="http://www.jdoqocy.com/95104y1A719PYTSWYSZPRSTSZSRW?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%2Fw%2Fbattle-cry-2-jl-snyder%2F1122565942%3Fean%3D2940151101783&amp;cjsku=2940151101783" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.kqzyfj.com/qd122uoxuowBKFEIKELBDDKDDHLJ?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%2Fw%2Ftoonopolis-jeremy-rodden%2F1101314250%3Fean%3D9780983425397&amp;cjsku=9780983425397" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JxWtVnGXxU4/WLAYLjwYsrI/AAAAAAAACKk/LzDQL6wSUSA-s47jHr0LZKyL0ifZ1WUJQCPcB/s1600/barnes-and-noble.png" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Meet the Author Q&amp;A - J.L. Snyder</u></b></span></h2><h3 style="text-align: center;"></h3><h3 style="text-align: center;"></h3><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7aooMJOQXgU/WaGBX0xeQvI/AAAAAAAAC30/HE-WgaaOtXIpqHHWIFFic8JZ8AQu9y2jQCLcBGAs/s1600/JL%2BSnyder%252BBattle%2BCry%252BBarnesandNoble5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="465" height="215" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7aooMJOQXgU/WaGBX0xeQvI/AAAAAAAAC30/HE-WgaaOtXIpqHHWIFFic8JZ8AQu9y2jQCLcBGAs/s320/JL%2BSnyder%252BBattle%2BCry%252BBarnesandNoble5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b>What made you want to to write books?</b> I always had a gift for writing. In fact, my high school English teacher was the first person who told me that I had the talent to be a writer. Being a teenager at the time, I didn't think much of it. Fast forward many years into the future, I met my wife, the angel of my life. She was the one who reignited my interest in writing. She supports me 200% in my writing.<br /><br /><b>Where does your inspiration come from?</b> Honestly mine inspiration for what I write comes from comic book and Manga. I'm still a kid at heart. I love reading comic books and Manga. I'm also a big fan of cartoons and Anime. In fact, "Battle Cry" &amp; "Battle Cry 2 Shadow of the Sword" were inspired by the cartoon Samurai Jack.<br /><br /><b>How long have you been writing?</b> I began writing again when I was in college in early 2000. I published a few poems and prose pieces before I published "Battle Cry."<br /><br /><b>What's your daily routine?</b> My ideal routine would be to write several hours everyday. However with my plate being currently full, I take advantage of writing in the mornings during the week. On the weekends I make an effort to write mid-day or evenings. I love writing in different places, at home or in the park. I'm inspired by different locations.<br /><br /><b>How long does it take you to write a book - From the first word to completion?</b> That depends. My current book series is taking longer than I anticipated because I haven't had much time to write this year. Besides the fact that I work full time, I'm involved in many personal projects this year. I should be able to get back in the flow of my writing in August of this year.<br /><br /><b>What do you do in your spare time?</b> I like to use my smoker and smoke choice meats! It drives my neighbors crazy!!<br /><br /><b>TV shows - what's your favourite, past and present?</b><br /><br />Past- Kojak, The Highlander, Luther.<br /><br />Present - Legends of Tomorrow, Iron Fist, Luke Cage. <br /><br /><b>Do you have any future projects you're working on?</b> Yes, I'm currently working on a crime series.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Follow Jeffrey Here:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4869101.J_L_Snyder" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57CMZYE-hIA/WLAsfZw4feI/AAAAAAAACLw/rxAzqwb37scW6sSadP6csFB9oIlWTZ9eQCLcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a><a href="http://www.twitter.com/battlecrybook" target="_blank"><img alt="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xOOCPtPyonQ/WLAsgDXJXVI/AAAAAAAACME/uR-ZY0ObpxoKnKFpYPfdUYSb3Q6HtgT6wCLcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a><a href="http://www.battlecrybook.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.toonopolis.com/" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H1vQHFtyqeY/WQr-I-FpV8I/AAAAAAAACrY/zkBJCTUBL0IfvxenIqHLWdwtwlB6VM_uQCLcB/s1600/rss.png" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Follow and Like</i> to Read More News and <i>Bookworm Blogger #YA</i> Reviews:</b></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; 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margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://charlottesbooks.tumblr.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iNPAc3E-gnE/WLaPgTeMsVI/AAAAAAAACQU/9pr5431hD74GV7U4s7FPXV77JWuQdhwRwCLcB/s1600/tumblr.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R5u7AjHsikg/WLAsgAqux6I/AAAAAAAACMA/V5K0xd5r1RYBLfCgD9Ab22qpPNgJFGHpACLcB/s1600/pinterest.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" target="_blank"><img alt="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Glw_DcJpyB0/WLAsf7ldGMI/AAAAAAAACL4/477mfmtG2WMl28-EyasJIbLbSURJRbRPQCLcB/s1600/google%252B.png" /></a></td><td><a href="mailto:bwormblogger@gmail.com" target="_blank"><img alt="bwormblogger@gmail.com" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d7yo6MW1sFM/WLAsf5FdGhI/AAAAAAAACL8/A3liVzPwlAUYYluvNkBAc5wJOOiJbFU8ACLcB/s1600/mail.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Charlotte Blackhttps://plus.google.com/101062532400721123197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430519442066245345.post-36260963978826600352017-08-26T14:23:00.000+01:002017-08-27T20:37:41.074+01:00Review: Wondrous Strange (Wondrous Strange #1) by Lesley Livingston<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0061575399/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=neverleavethe-21&amp;camp=1634&amp;creative=6738&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0061575399&amp;linkId=4ee02350a091a3a61b0f9d3e8e22975d" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0061575399/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=neverleavethe-21&amp;camp=1634&amp;creative=6738&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0061575399&amp;linkId=4ee02350a091a3a61b0f9d3e8e22975d" border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="318" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oUF5zNSK0to/WX2sP_1TLjI/AAAAAAAAC28/EWUi25RXO7Q2XRdFPFUshWl_-5ZwsjxrACLcBGAs/s400/wondrousstr.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0061575399/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=neverleavethe-21&amp;camp=1634&amp;creative=6738&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0061575399&amp;linkId=4ee02350a091a3a61b0f9d3e8e22975d" target="_blank">Wondrous Strange (Wondrous Strange #1) by Lesley Livingston</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Published:</b> October 6th 2009 by HarperTeen </div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<b>Rating</b>: 3 out of 5</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Available from:</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>&nbsp;</b></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0061575399/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=neverleavethe-21&amp;camp=1634&amp;creative=6738&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0061575399&amp;linkId=4ee02350a091a3a61b0f9d3e8e22975d" target="_blank"><img alt="Amazon" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cBN9n_YXFUQ/WPMuIbp36DI/AAAAAAAACmU/t267fGBL5xU1wPTZDw1_enJy13oBJMi4wCPcB/s1600/amazon.png" /></a><a href="http://www.dpbolvw.net/2n117js0ys-FOJIMOIPFHGIOHLLH?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebooks.com%2Fcj.asp%3FIID%3D907804&amp;cjsku=907804" target="_blank"><img alt="eBooks.com=" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kFrWDUEgV3o/WPSRanNW-RI/AAAAAAAACmo/Hez2X7U_N0Ysjt-MxdVlnt_DX7cqeOdbACPcB/s1600/Ebooks.png" /></a><a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/Wondrous-Strange-Lesley-Livingston/9780061575396?a_aid=BookwormBloggerYA" target="_blank"><img alt="Book Depository" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bSDz8VOCue8/WPSRahx90EI/AAAAAAAACmg/7l4DNQbahdMo2XaZS9gK65jCe6228sS4ACLcB/s1600/BookDepository.png" /></a><a href="http://www.jdoqocy.com/td121lnwtnvAJEDHJDKACDEDKDCH?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%2Fw%2Fwondrous-strange-lesley-livingston%2F1121647978%3Fean%3D9788864114637&amp;cjsku=9788864114637" target="_blank"><img alt="Barnes and Noble" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DLjYTrZGvN4/WQn88hamloI/AAAAAAAACqk/lbaiWu_2HGIfG3ejVEB5gfTIsF7BTw4xgCLcB/s1600/barnes-and-noble.png" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Synopsis:</b></span></div><br />Seventeen-year-old actress Kelley Winslow thinks that playing the role of the fairy queen Titiana in a production of Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream could be her lucky break - if she can pull it off.<br /><br />But when she meets the handsome Sonny Flannery, Kelley has to face the shocking truth that the world of Faeries is all too real - and that she an unwitting part of it. Sonny warns Kelley that she is no mere mortal, and that she is being haunted by powerful forces from the Faerie realm.<br /><br />Now, Kelley must come to terms with her heritage - and her growing feelings for Sonny - if she wants to save not only herself, but also the human world that she holds dear.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Review:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />For me, its very hard to beat Julie Kagawa's The Iron King series, however Wondrous Strange does a good job.<br /><br />Kelley is launched into a world of Season Courts, Seelie and UnSeelie, and learns something about her past while she's about it.<br /><br />While the story is quick and is brought along by great dialogue, and quirky happenings along Kelley's adventure, it must be noted that there wasn't really anything new or greatly original about the story.<br /><br />Most of the unpredictability happens closer to the end, and around two thirds of the way through I was getting a little bit bored. The romance was slow burning, a nice change from the insta-love bunch, but still was a little too tame with a lacking of passion.<br /><br />Regardless, I did enjoy it, and will pick up the next in the series, but I wasn't blown away by it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">-CBx</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤ </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>About the Author</b></span></div><br /><i><span id="freeText17456763226031434761">LESLEY LIVINGSTON is a writer living in Toronto, Canada. She is the author of twelve books to date. Her first novel, WONDROUS STRANGE, was winner of the CLA Young Adult Book of the Year 2010, a White Pine Honour Book, shortlisted for the Sunburst Award for Excellence in Canadian Speculative Fiction, and in 2015 was named one of CBC’s “100 YA Books That Make You Proud To Be Canadian”. DARKLIGHT, the second book in this series was a finalist for the Indigo Teen Read Awards. The concluding volume in the trilogy, TEMPESTUOUS, was a finalist for the Monica Hughes Award. These books have sold to more than ten countries to date, and WONDROUS STRANGE has been optioned for film/TV by Shaftesbury Films. Her other trilogies have both won the Copper Cylinder award for Young Adult fiction.</span></i> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b>You can find Lesley Livingston here:</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lesleylivingston.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WL-E10LNbZA/WLaqwbLR-TI/AAAAAAAACRg/qN7mGEDQn-gSaFhs7Ss_mWWJlS08D86BwCPcB/s1600/rss.png" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1312879.Lesley_Livingston" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BtDBfny2iO8/WLAp5ur6CwI/AAAAAAAACLg/23DNFE_mEBQ4of4CcZkpBT2gMr96Zbi3wCPcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B0qxuvei30k/WXb6gluvUsI/AAAAAAAAC1U/9pnh9MB-qogF3WbGWRtxzytdnl-KbbHuACLcBGAs/s1600/LLivingston.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B0qxuvei30k/WXb6gluvUsI/AAAAAAAAC1U/9pnh9MB-qogF3WbGWRtxzytdnl-KbbHuACLcBGAs/s1600/LLivingston.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤ </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Follow and Like</i> to Read More <i>Bookworm Blogger #YA</i> Reviews:</b></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-41eldXiqbRc/WLAsflS3nGI/AAAAAAAACL0/fYRh5lclvX4zPin4F6OQ6bbazrhWi3QvQCLcB/s1600/facebook.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" target="_blank"><img alt="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xOOCPtPyonQ/WLAsgDXJXVI/AAAAAAAACME/uR-ZY0ObpxoKnKFpYPfdUYSb3Q6HtgT6wCLcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k2nSQa2WGt4/WLAsfQtt2EI/AAAAAAAACLs/i7HybLqSSNg13BTOzepYFq2xMEJkby6hgCLcB/s1600/bloglovin.png" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57CMZYE-hIA/WLAsfZw4feI/AAAAAAAACLw/rxAzqwb37scW6sSadP6csFB9oIlWTZ9eQCLcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; 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text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2tTSVc0" target="_blank"><img alt="http://amzn.to/2tTSVc0" border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HewniYvb_xI/WX2bB4HElzI/AAAAAAAAC20/Kav7GgWgTl4xj3Az-Tzzaj-ueAgz-6CygCLcBGAs/s400/Transcendant.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> <a href="http://amzn.to/2tTSVc0" target="_blank">Transcendent (Starling #3) by Lesley Livingston</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Published:</b> December 23rd 2014 by HarperTeen </div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<b>Rating</b>: 4 out of 5</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Available from:</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>&nbsp;</b></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2tTSVc0" target="_blank"><img alt="Amazon" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cBN9n_YXFUQ/WPMuIbp36DI/AAAAAAAACmU/t267fGBL5xU1wPTZDw1_enJy13oBJMi4wCPcB/s1600/amazon.png" /></a><a href="http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-8326829-10281551?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebooks.com%2Fcj.asp%3FIID%3D1685446&amp;cjsku=1685446" target="_blank"><img alt="eBooks.com=" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kFrWDUEgV3o/WPSRanNW-RI/AAAAAAAACmo/Hez2X7U_N0Ysjt-MxdVlnt_DX7cqeOdbACPcB/s1600/Ebooks.png" /></a><a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/Transcendent-Lesley-Livingston/9780062063137?a_aid=BookwormBloggerYA" target="_blank"><img alt="Book Depository" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bSDz8VOCue8/WPSRahx90EI/AAAAAAAACmg/7l4DNQbahdMo2XaZS9gK65jCe6228sS4ACLcB/s1600/BookDepository.png" /></a><a href="http://www.jdoqocy.com/ok79gv30v2IRMLPRLSIKLMLSLKP?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%2Fw%2Ftranscendent-lesley-livingston%2F1119055377%3Fean%3D9780062063168&amp;cjsku=9780062063168" target="_blank"><img alt="Barnes and Noble" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DLjYTrZGvN4/WQn88hamloI/AAAAAAAACqk/lbaiWu_2HGIfG3ejVEB5gfTIsF7BTw4xgCLcB/s1600/barnes-and-noble.png" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Synopsis:</b></span></div><i><br /></i>LOVE CONQUERS<br /><br />On a storm-swept terrace high above the streets of Manhattan, Mason Starling holds the fate of the world in her hands as her beloved Fennrys lies bleeding at her feet, his life hanging in the balance. The ancient Norse prophecy of Ragnarok stands poised on the knife edge of fulfilment. <br /><br />Mason’s transformation into a Valkyrie—a chooser of the slain and the one who will ultimately bring about the end of the world—is complete. Still, she remains determined to thwart her father’s apocalyptic desires. Whatever is to come, it won’t happen because of what the prophecy foretold, or what Gunnar Starling has planned, or what the fates have already decided. <br /><br />What happens next will be up to Mason and the Fennrys Wolf. The world had better hope they haven’t reached the limits of what their souls and swords can survive. Perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series, and set in the same universe as Lesley Livingston’s much-loved WONDROUS STRANGE trilogy, with roots in Greek, Roman, Norse, Egyptian, and Celtic myths and legends, this thrilling conclusion to the acclaimed Starling trilogy is filled to the hilt with sweeping adventure and soaring romance. <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Review:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Continuing exactly where Descendant left off, Mason is left begging Rafe, as Anubis, to save Fennrys's life. This will make Fennrys a wolf, and will fulfill a prophecy of sorts.<br /><br />If the other two books were considered fast paced, then this one is superhuman fast. The story speeds up, if that's at all possible, and jets through vast epical backstory telling us about Fennrys and his own family, and how the school, Mason and her father are all involved in Ragnarok. Most importantly, why her father believes this should come to pass especially when he is the man who has everything.<br /><br />The mythical gods continue to weave their way into these teenagers lives and soon the world cannot control what is happening as past and present collide.<br /><br />This book really impressed me. Starling and Descendant were somewhat troublesome in parts but if it all came down to this book then I would say any lover of young adult fantasy should read this series.<br /><br />I do love mythical books and loved how Livingston tries continually to add small elements of smaller myths into her story lines. It might be as inconsequential as the guy who Heather meets on the train, but it proved to be a vital part of the story later on. At the beginning you think, why include this, and then you have that 'ah-ha' moment when it all makes sense. <br /><br />At the end of Transcendent my admiration for Mason grew exponentially. She's now become one of my favourite characters, and I would love to read more from her. Hopefully in first person point of view next time. I also liked Fennrys, who played a vital role in Mason's grounding. He was the only one who wouldn't let her embrace her true fate, and the only one who could bring her out of her reverie as a Valkyrie.<br /><br />The gods meeting in modern day is exciting and I don't think I've read anyone who's been able to achieve this quite so thoroughly.<br /><br />I would recommend this series if you follow myths, but also if you enjoy a group camaraderie story where everyone has a role to play in defeating the ultimate enemy. I'm now a Lesley Livingston fan! <br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">-CBx</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤ </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>About the Author</b></span></div><br /><i><span id="freeText17456763226031434761">LESLEY LIVINGSTON is a writer living in Toronto, Canada. She is the author of twelve books to date. Her first novel, WONDROUS STRANGE, was winner of the CLA Young Adult Book of the Year 2010, a White Pine Honour Book, shortlisted for the Sunburst Award for Excellence in Canadian Speculative Fiction, and in 2015 was named one of CBC’s “100 YA Books That Make You Proud To Be Canadian”. DARKLIGHT, the second book in this series was a finalist for the Indigo Teen Read Awards. The concluding volume in the trilogy, TEMPESTUOUS, was a finalist for the Monica Hughes Award. These books have sold to more than ten countries to date, and WONDROUS STRANGE has been optioned for film/TV by Shaftesbury Films. Her other trilogies have both won the Copper Cylinder award for Young Adult fiction.</span></i> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b>You can find Lesley Livingston here:</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lesleylivingston.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WL-E10LNbZA/WLaqwbLR-TI/AAAAAAAACRg/qN7mGEDQn-gSaFhs7Ss_mWWJlS08D86BwCPcB/s1600/rss.png" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1312879.Lesley_Livingston" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BtDBfny2iO8/WLAp5ur6CwI/AAAAAAAACLg/23DNFE_mEBQ4of4CcZkpBT2gMr96Zbi3wCPcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B0qxuvei30k/WXb6gluvUsI/AAAAAAAAC1U/9pnh9MB-qogF3WbGWRtxzytdnl-KbbHuACLcBGAs/s1600/LLivingston.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B0qxuvei30k/WXb6gluvUsI/AAAAAAAAC1U/9pnh9MB-qogF3WbGWRtxzytdnl-KbbHuACLcBGAs/s1600/LLivingston.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤ </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Follow and Like</i> to Read More <i>Bookworm Blogger #YA</i> Reviews:</b></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-41eldXiqbRc/WLAsflS3nGI/AAAAAAAACL0/fYRh5lclvX4zPin4F6OQ6bbazrhWi3QvQCLcB/s1600/facebook.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" target="_blank"><img alt="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xOOCPtPyonQ/WLAsgDXJXVI/AAAAAAAACME/uR-ZY0ObpxoKnKFpYPfdUYSb3Q6HtgT6wCLcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k2nSQa2WGt4/WLAsfQtt2EI/AAAAAAAACLs/i7HybLqSSNg13BTOzepYFq2xMEJkby6hgCLcB/s1600/bloglovin.png" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57CMZYE-hIA/WLAsfZw4feI/AAAAAAAACLw/rxAzqwb37scW6sSadP6csFB9oIlWTZ9eQCLcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://charlottesbooks.tumblr.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iNPAc3E-gnE/WLaPgTeMsVI/AAAAAAAACQU/9pr5431hD74GV7U4s7FPXV77JWuQdhwRwCLcB/s1600/tumblr.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R5u7AjHsikg/WLAsgAqux6I/AAAAAAAACMA/V5K0xd5r1RYBLfCgD9Ab22qpPNgJFGHpACLcB/s1600/pinterest.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" target="_blank"><img alt="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Glw_DcJpyB0/WLAsf7ldGMI/AAAAAAAACL4/477mfmtG2WMl28-EyasJIbLbSURJRbRPQCLcB/s1600/google%252B.png" /></a></td><td><a href="mailto:bwormblogger@gmail.com" target="_blank"><img alt="bwormblogger@gmail.com" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d7yo6MW1sFM/WLAsf5FdGhI/AAAAAAAACL8/A3liVzPwlAUYYluvNkBAc5wJOOiJbFU8ACLcB/s1600/mail.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Charlotte Blackhttps://plus.google.com/101062532400721123197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430519442066245345.post-11196577543226492232017-07-30T09:06:00.004+01:002017-07-30T10:04:57.293+01:00Review: Descendant (Starling #2) by Lesley Livingston<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2vi50Ik" target="_blank"><img alt="http://amzn.to/2vi50Ik" border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tw48f0hz154/WX2UdXWpGOI/AAAAAAAAC2o/blkSSCgA0YwSTJO-85N0oh0FtN4m4SSTwCLcBGAs/s400/Descendant.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> <a href="http://amzn.to/2vi50Ik" target="_blank">Descendant (Starling #2) by Lesley Livingston</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Published:</b> August 27th 2013 by HarperTeen </div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<b>Rating</b>: 3 out of 5</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Available from:</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>&nbsp;</b></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2vi50Ik" target="_blank"><img alt="Amazon" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cBN9n_YXFUQ/WPMuIbp36DI/AAAAAAAACmU/t267fGBL5xU1wPTZDw1_enJy13oBJMi4wCPcB/s1600/amazon.png" /></a><a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/nh65uoxuowBKFEIKELBDCEKDHHD?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebooks.com%2Fcj.asp%3FIID%3D1242842&amp;cjsku=1242842" target="_blank"><img alt="eBooks.com=" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kFrWDUEgV3o/WPSRanNW-RI/AAAAAAAACmo/Hez2X7U_N0Ysjt-MxdVlnt_DX7cqeOdbACPcB/s1600/Ebooks.png" /></a><a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/Descendant-Lesley-Livingston/9780062063106?a_aid=BookwormBloggerYA" target="_blank"><img alt="Book Depository" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bSDz8VOCue8/WPSRahx90EI/AAAAAAAACmg/7l4DNQbahdMo2XaZS9gK65jCe6228sS4ACLcB/s1600/BookDepository.png" /></a><a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/rf121kjspjr6FA9DF9G689A9G98D?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%2Fw%2Fdescendant-lesley-livingston%2F1114921721%3Fean%3D9780062063120&amp;cjsku=9780062063120" target="_blank"><img alt="Barnes and Noble" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DLjYTrZGvN4/WQn88hamloI/AAAAAAAACqk/lbaiWu_2HGIfG3ejVEB5gfTIsF7BTw4xgCLcB/s1600/barnes-and-noble.png" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Synopsis:</b></span></div><i><br /></i>The last thing Mason Starling remembers is the train crossing a bridge. An explosion . . . a blinding light . . . then darkness. Now she is alone, stranded in Asgard—the realm of Norse legend—and the only way for her to get home is to find the Spear of Odin, a powerful relic left behind by vanished gods.<br /><br />The Fennrys Wolf knows all about Asgard. He was once trapped there. And he’ll do whatever it takes to find the girl who’s stolen his heart and bring her back—even if it means a treacherous descent into the Underworld. But time is running out, and Fenn knows something Mason doesn’t: If she takes up the Spear, she’ll set in motion a terrible prophecy. And she won’t just return to her world . . . she’ll destroy it.<br /><br />In this pulse-pounding sequel to Starling, Lesley Livingston delivers another electrifying blend of nonstop action and undeniable romance that will leave readers breathless. <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Review:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Continuing exactly where <i>Starling</i> left off, Mason is catapulted into Asgard (not literally) and introduced to her mother, whom she's never met. Or is it her mother?<br /><br />All the hands of fate are at work and pushing Mason to grab that spear of Odin, but Mason doesn't want to. She knows she'll turn into a Valkyrie - a chooser of the slain - and it's not in her nature. But trickery is at work and Mason falls for it bigtime.<br /><br />Fennrys is no stranger to Asgard, and he knows if anyone can save Mason from her fate its him. He travels by other means to get to Odin's hall, with the help of Egyptian God Anubis, otherwise known as Rafe who was briefly introduced in the first book.<br /><br />I could never decide whether Rafe was doing his own bidding or working for someone else. We know he works with Daria, who is Calum's mother, but he's much older and wiser than anyone else, so this stumped me for much of the story. Calum also gets to grips with his love sickness for Mason by realising he has a part to play in the deceit of his mother. I didn't like him much in the first book, he was too hot and cold for me, but I did actually get on his side in this one.<br /><br />Heather also has a bigger part, and though her uses are smaller, she certainly is an important cog in the wheel. Roth, Mason's older brother continues to intrigue while the other brother, Rory becomes engrossed in his own darker, more evil side.<br /><br />The sprinkling of other gods from other mythology actually works well in this middle book of the Starling series. Any hurdles in the storyline get placed down in this one firmly and we finally get the full backstory of Mason's father and why he wants to bring on Ragnarök, the Norse end of the world, or its beginning, whichever version you wish to believe.<br /><br />With a much stronger, beefed up character plot and an ironing out of a somewhat confusing storyline I can safely say I liked this one more then the first.<br /><br />Mason and Fennrys are great characters to follow and you just want to will them to win in the end. It's another cliffhanger, of sorts, with all paths now narrowed for what is going to be an epic finale.<br /><br />If you were disappointed in Starling, then Descendant will clear all of this up. I definitely recommend this series now, and the third and final book is already a shoo-in!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">-CBx</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤ </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>About the Author</b></span></div><br /><i><span id="freeText17456763226031434761">LESLEY LIVINGSTON is a writer living in Toronto, Canada. She is the author of twelve books to date. Her first novel, WONDROUS STRANGE, was winner of the CLA Young Adult Book of the Year 2010, a White Pine Honour Book, shortlisted for the Sunburst Award for Excellence in Canadian Speculative Fiction, and in 2015 was named one of CBC’s “100 YA Books That Make You Proud To Be Canadian”. DARKLIGHT, the second book in this series was a finalist for the Indigo Teen Read Awards. The concluding volume in the trilogy, TEMPESTUOUS, was a finalist for the Monica Hughes Award. These books have sold to more than ten countries to date, and WONDROUS STRANGE has been optioned for film/TV by Shaftesbury Films. Her other trilogies have both won the Copper Cylinder award for Young Adult fiction.</span></i> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b>You can find Lesley Livingston here:</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lesleylivingston.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WL-E10LNbZA/WLaqwbLR-TI/AAAAAAAACRg/qN7mGEDQn-gSaFhs7Ss_mWWJlS08D86BwCPcB/s1600/rss.png" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1312879.Lesley_Livingston" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BtDBfny2iO8/WLAp5ur6CwI/AAAAAAAACLg/23DNFE_mEBQ4of4CcZkpBT2gMr96Zbi3wCPcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B0qxuvei30k/WXb6gluvUsI/AAAAAAAAC1U/9pnh9MB-qogF3WbGWRtxzytdnl-KbbHuACLcBGAs/s1600/LLivingston.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B0qxuvei30k/WXb6gluvUsI/AAAAAAAAC1U/9pnh9MB-qogF3WbGWRtxzytdnl-KbbHuACLcBGAs/s1600/LLivingston.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤ </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Follow and Like</i> to Read More <i>Bookworm Blogger #YA</i> Reviews:</b></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-41eldXiqbRc/WLAsflS3nGI/AAAAAAAACL0/fYRh5lclvX4zPin4F6OQ6bbazrhWi3QvQCLcB/s1600/facebook.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" target="_blank"><img alt="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xOOCPtPyonQ/WLAsgDXJXVI/AAAAAAAACME/uR-ZY0ObpxoKnKFpYPfdUYSb3Q6HtgT6wCLcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k2nSQa2WGt4/WLAsfQtt2EI/AAAAAAAACLs/i7HybLqSSNg13BTOzepYFq2xMEJkby6hgCLcB/s1600/bloglovin.png" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57CMZYE-hIA/WLAsfZw4feI/AAAAAAAACLw/rxAzqwb37scW6sSadP6csFB9oIlWTZ9eQCLcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://charlottesbooks.tumblr.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iNPAc3E-gnE/WLaPgTeMsVI/AAAAAAAACQU/9pr5431hD74GV7U4s7FPXV77JWuQdhwRwCLcB/s1600/tumblr.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R5u7AjHsikg/WLAsgAqux6I/AAAAAAAACMA/V5K0xd5r1RYBLfCgD9Ab22qpPNgJFGHpACLcB/s1600/pinterest.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" target="_blank"><img alt="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Glw_DcJpyB0/WLAsf7ldGMI/AAAAAAAACL4/477mfmtG2WMl28-EyasJIbLbSURJRbRPQCLcB/s1600/google%252B.png" /></a></td><td><a href="mailto:bwormblogger@gmail.com" target="_blank"><img alt="bwormblogger@gmail.com" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d7yo6MW1sFM/WLAsf5FdGhI/AAAAAAAACL8/A3liVzPwlAUYYluvNkBAc5wJOOiJbFU8ACLcB/s1600/mail.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Charlotte Blackhttps://plus.google.com/101062532400721123197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430519442066245345.post-5993040002694307072017-07-30T08:40:00.002+01:002017-07-30T10:04:12.073+01:00Review: Starling (Starling #1) by Lesley Livingston<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2vUDqho" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0062063073/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=neverleavethe-21&amp;camp=1634&amp;creative=6738&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0062063073&amp;linkId=8ee3cc5feeff1abaaeb4459012451e4e" border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="316" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Guq_DJKrk-w/WX2IE0qB6CI/AAAAAAAAC2c/ybJ_gYSl_nIDcN4MgWbikunCwpwPmxK1QCLcBGAs/s400/Starling.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> <a href="http://amzn.to/2vUDqho" target="_blank">Starling (Starling #1) by Lesley Livingston</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Published:</b> August 28th 2012 by HarperTeen</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<b>Rating</b>: 3 out of 5</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Available from:</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>&nbsp;</b></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2vUDqho" target="_blank"><img alt="Amazon" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cBN9n_YXFUQ/WPMuIbp36DI/AAAAAAAACmU/t267fGBL5xU1wPTZDw1_enJy13oBJMi4wCPcB/s1600/amazon.png" /></a><a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/41100lnwtnvAJEDHJDKACBDJCGGC?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebooks.com%2Fcj.asp%3FIID%3D921777&amp;cjsku=921777" target="_blank"><img alt="eBooks.com=" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kFrWDUEgV3o/WPSRanNW-RI/AAAAAAAACmo/Hez2X7U_N0Ysjt-MxdVlnt_DX7cqeOdbACPcB/s1600/Ebooks.png" /></a><a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/Starling/9780062063076?a_aid=BookwormBloggerYA" target="_blank"><img alt="Book Depository" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bSDz8VOCue8/WPSRahx90EI/AAAAAAAACmg/7l4DNQbahdMo2XaZS9gK65jCe6228sS4ACLcB/s1600/BookDepository.png" /></a><a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/mg101lnwtnvAJEDHJDKACDEDKDCH?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%2Fw%2Fstarling-lesley-livingston%2F1108621141%3Fean%3D9780062063090&amp;cjsku=9780062063090" target="_blank"><img alt="Barnes and Noble" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DLjYTrZGvN4/WQn88hamloI/AAAAAAAACqk/lbaiWu_2HGIfG3ejVEB5gfTIsF7BTw4xgCLcB/s1600/barnes-and-noble.png" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Synopsis:</b></span></div><i><br /></i>Mason Starling is a champion fencer on the Gosforth Academy team, but she's never had to fight for her life.<br /><br />Not until the night a ferocious, otherworldly storm rips through Manhattan, trapping Mason and her teammates inside the school. Mason is besieged by nightmarish creatures more terrifying than the thunder and lightning as the raging tempest also brings a dangerous stranger into her life: a young man who remembers nothing but his name—the Fennrys Wolf. His arrival tears Mason's world apart, even as she feels an undeniable connection to him.<br /><br />Together, they seek to unravel the secrets of Fenn's identity as strange and supernatural forces gather around them. When they discover Mason's family—with its dark allegiance to ancient Norse gods—is at the heart of the mystery, Fennrys and Mason are suddenly faced with a terrifying future.<br /><br />Set against the gritty, shadowed back-drop of New York City, this first novel in award-winning author Lesley Livingston's epic Starling Saga is an intoxicating blend of sweeping romance and pulse-pounding action. <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Review:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />I read The Valiant and enjoyed it, so wanted to read more of Lesley's work. Starling was probably the wrong end of her three magical series to start with. The characters are intertwined throughout her books, so I had no idea who the Fennrys Wolf was at the beginning.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Whilst I enjoyed Starling immensely, it did have a tendency of becoming overly written in places. I noticed this in The Valiant also. Another barrier to becoming fully engrossed in the story was the third person point of view. It can work on great sagas but I never think it works well in Young Adult purely because we need get up close and inside the heads of our heroines, and for this the outside POV doesn't work.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I liked how feisty Mason was. She's a strong character from the beginning. Fennrys is a great character also, but I didn't like the insta-attraction. I wouldn't call it love as they're both too young to understand what it is. That isn't a general thought, it's what the characters think.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The story, while full of action packed events, does tend to be a little confusing at times. Mason's father goes off the rails and is trying to turn his daughter into a Valkyrie because he's an incarnation or something of Odin? All I know is the characters stop danger and soon gather forces to stop Mason's fate, which is to take Odin's staff from Asgard and turn herself into said Valkyrie.<br /><br />What I liked was the slow dawning of Mason's fate and she gets to grips with her once happy but now dysfunctional family. Also, how she relies on others but takes a stand when she believes in doing the right thing. After all, it isn't only her involved in the grand plan of her father, its her friends who suffer too.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Other characters in the story are worth mentioning. Roth, Mason's oldest brother is in for a reckoning when Mason finds out all the bad things he's done. And Heather, the original enemy of Mason, actually is misunderstood.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There is a cliffhanger so be warned. The story isn't dumbed down either for a younger audience. All in all, Starling is a gripping, steady paced journey of history through Norse mythology, with quirky and strong characters meeting a destiny that was already set in place before they were born (or most of them!) Try it!</div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />-CBx</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤ </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>About the Author</b></span></div><br /><i><span id="freeText17456763226031434761">LESLEY LIVINGSTON is a writer living in Toronto, Canada. She is the author of twelve books to date. Her first novel, WONDROUS STRANGE, was winner of the CLA Young Adult Book of the Year 2010, a White Pine Honour Book, shortlisted for the Sunburst Award for Excellence in Canadian Speculative Fiction, and in 2015 was named one of CBC’s “100 YA Books That Make You Proud To Be Canadian”. DARKLIGHT, the second book in this series was a finalist for the Indigo Teen Read Awards. The concluding volume in the trilogy, TEMPESTUOUS, was a finalist for the Monica Hughes Award. These books have sold to more than ten countries to date, and WONDROUS STRANGE has been optioned for film/TV by Shaftesbury Films. Her other trilogies have both won the Copper Cylinder award for Young Adult fiction.</span></i> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b>You can find Lesley Livingston here:</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lesleylivingston.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WL-E10LNbZA/WLaqwbLR-TI/AAAAAAAACRg/qN7mGEDQn-gSaFhs7Ss_mWWJlS08D86BwCPcB/s1600/rss.png" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1312879.Lesley_Livingston" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BtDBfny2iO8/WLAp5ur6CwI/AAAAAAAACLg/23DNFE_mEBQ4of4CcZkpBT2gMr96Zbi3wCPcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B0qxuvei30k/WXb6gluvUsI/AAAAAAAAC1U/9pnh9MB-qogF3WbGWRtxzytdnl-KbbHuACLcBGAs/s1600/LLivingston.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B0qxuvei30k/WXb6gluvUsI/AAAAAAAAC1U/9pnh9MB-qogF3WbGWRtxzytdnl-KbbHuACLcBGAs/s1600/LLivingston.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤ </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Follow and Like</i> to Read More <i>Bookworm Blogger #YA</i> Reviews:</b></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-41eldXiqbRc/WLAsflS3nGI/AAAAAAAACL0/fYRh5lclvX4zPin4F6OQ6bbazrhWi3QvQCLcB/s1600/facebook.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" target="_blank"><img alt="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xOOCPtPyonQ/WLAsgDXJXVI/AAAAAAAACME/uR-ZY0ObpxoKnKFpYPfdUYSb3Q6HtgT6wCLcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k2nSQa2WGt4/WLAsfQtt2EI/AAAAAAAACLs/i7HybLqSSNg13BTOzepYFq2xMEJkby6hgCLcB/s1600/bloglovin.png" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57CMZYE-hIA/WLAsfZw4feI/AAAAAAAACLw/rxAzqwb37scW6sSadP6csFB9oIlWTZ9eQCLcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://charlottesbooks.tumblr.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iNPAc3E-gnE/WLaPgTeMsVI/AAAAAAAACQU/9pr5431hD74GV7U4s7FPXV77JWuQdhwRwCLcB/s1600/tumblr.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R5u7AjHsikg/WLAsgAqux6I/AAAAAAAACMA/V5K0xd5r1RYBLfCgD9Ab22qpPNgJFGHpACLcB/s1600/pinterest.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" target="_blank"><img alt="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Glw_DcJpyB0/WLAsf7ldGMI/AAAAAAAACL4/477mfmtG2WMl28-EyasJIbLbSURJRbRPQCLcB/s1600/google%252B.png" /></a></td><td><a href="mailto:bwormblogger@gmail.com" target="_blank"><img alt="bwormblogger@gmail.com" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d7yo6MW1sFM/WLAsf5FdGhI/AAAAAAAACL8/A3liVzPwlAUYYluvNkBAc5wJOOiJbFU8ACLcB/s1600/mail.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Charlotte Blackhttps://plus.google.com/101062532400721123197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430519442066245345.post-4957596502206977062017-07-30T08:02:00.001+01:002017-07-30T08:02:13.954+01:00Review: Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span id="goog_201402344"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0385743238/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=neverleavethe-21&amp;camp=1634&amp;creative=6738&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0385743238&amp;linkId=d33e81d93329513e6e4af1051070e5c1" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0385743238/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=neverleavethe-21&amp;camp=1634&amp;creative=6738&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0385743238&amp;linkId=d33e81d93329513e6e4af1051070e5c1" border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lSBaPGPE6sQ/WXcQ27ibK_I/AAAAAAAAC1o/XdwTQWxM3Ak27NCtWxnQw9IU980_ri0CgCLcBGAs/s400/princessthorns.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0385743238/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=neverleavethe-21&amp;camp=1634&amp;creative=6738&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0385743238&amp;linkId=d33e81d93329513e6e4af1051070e5c1" target="_blank">Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay </a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Published:</b> December 9th 2014 by Delacorte Press </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Rating</b>: 5 out of 5</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Available from:</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>&nbsp;</b></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0385743238/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=neverleavethe-21&amp;camp=1634&amp;creative=6738&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0385743238&amp;linkId=d33e81d93329513e6e4af1051070e5c1" target="_blank"><img alt="Amazon" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cBN9n_YXFUQ/WPMuIbp36DI/AAAAAAAACmU/t267fGBL5xU1wPTZDw1_enJy13oBJMi4wCPcB/s1600/amazon.png" /></a><a href="http://www.tkqlhce.com/38102tenkem1A548A4B1324A3773?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebooks.com%2Fcj.asp%3FIID%3D1660842&amp;cjsku=1660842" target="_blank"><img alt="eBooks.com=" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kFrWDUEgV3o/WPSRanNW-RI/AAAAAAAACmo/Hez2X7U_N0Ysjt-MxdVlnt_DX7cqeOdbACPcB/s1600/Ebooks.png" /></a><a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/Princess-of-Thorns/9780385743235?a_aid=BookwormBloggerYA" target="_blank"><img alt="Book Depository" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bSDz8VOCue8/WPSRahx90EI/AAAAAAAACmg/7l4DNQbahdMo2XaZS9gK65jCe6228sS4ACLcB/s1600/BookDepository.png" /></a><a href="http://www.jdoqocy.com/59104js0ys-FOJIMOIPFHIJIPIHM?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%2Fw%2Fprincess-of-thorns-stacey-jay%2F1118924946%3Fean%3D9780307981431&amp;cjsku=9780307981431" target="_blank"><img alt="Barnes and Noble" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DLjYTrZGvN4/WQn88hamloI/AAAAAAAACqk/lbaiWu_2HGIfG3ejVEB5gfTIsF7BTw4xgCLcB/s1600/barnes-and-noble.png" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Synopsis:</b></span></div><i><br /></i><i>Game of Thrones meets the Grimm's fairy tales in this twisted, fast-paced romantic fantasy-adventure about Sleeping Beauty's daughter, a warrior princess who must fight to reclaim her throne.<br /><br />Though she looks like a mere mortal, Princess Aurora is a fairy blessed with enhanced strength, bravery, and mercy yet cursed to destroy the free will of any male who kisses her. Disguised as a boy, she enlists the help of the handsome but also cursed Prince Niklaas to fight legions of evil and free her brother from the ogre queen who stole Aurora's throne ten years ago.<br /><br />Will Aurora triumph over evil and reach her brother before it's too late? Can Aurora and Niklaas break the curses that will otherwise forever keep them from finding their one true love?</i><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Review:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />After reading so many series, I needed to read a stand alone, and Princess of Thorns fit the bill. I've read Stacey Jay books before so knew I wouldn't be disappointed, and I wasn't.<br /><br />This isn't a retelling, in its true respect, more of an addition to the original story. After years of mourning the loss of her deceased mother, Aurora persuades her father to marry again. Her new mother is a fearsome magical queen of another realm, who also happens to be her mothers sister and aunt. Queen Ekeeta soon holds the kingdom and its King in a thrall of adoration for her, but Aurora, with the little magic she knows, breaks the curse and Aurora and her brother, Jor, witness the death of their beloved father. Before their own demise, Aurora and Jor are rescued in the nick of time and taken to safety by a kindly guard, who takes care of them and becomes a father figure for the next nine years.&nbsp; Aurora spends the rest of her childhood planning to retake the kingdom which is hers by right.<br /><br />Prince Nicklaas is also under a curse. His father loved to rule his own dragon kingdom so much he placed a curse on all his sons to die on their 18th birthday so they wouldn't take his throne. However, the witch who performed the curse changed it without the King knowing. Instead of dying, all the boys turned into swans and didn't die. Prince Nicklaas knows of this curse and hunts for the only way to be redeemed of his feathered fate. He pursued the witch, who eventually told him the only way to escape his fate is to marry a princess of another kingdom. Nicklaas begins his search for the lost Princess Aurora, knowing she's the only one left who can save him, and hoping he can use his wits and charm to get her to marry him before his 18th birthday.<br /><br />This is a story of adventure, trust and of loss, and learning to deal with that loss. Whilst Nicklaas tends to be flippant and jovial, he carries his burden none too lightly, and feels his fate growing from the beginning. Aurora is more serious. She knows who is accountable for her fate and wants to punish the queen dearly. When Nicklaas and Aurora meet, you can tell fate has a hand and without knowing it, they both help each other overcome the sadness that sits on the horizon, waiting.<br /><br />Throughout their many adventures, and while Nicklaas believes for the most that Aurora is a boy, their friendship grows steadily. Only near the end do the tangles of emotion hamper them, and that's only because of their stubbornness in trying to do the right thing.<br /><br />I loved how the twist at the end sorted their relationship out. When they find the witch, the very one who placed the original curse on Nicklaas and his brothers, their paths should have separated but neither of them are that cold hearted as to leave the other behind. When they do, fate strikes again and brings them together for the finale.<br /><br />For a stand alone, this book had a satisfying beginning, middle and end. And once done, with all ties nicely tethered, the story put my faith back into retelling's of fairy tales. Some authors, particularly Stacey Jay, can do them justice.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />-CBx</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤ </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>About the Author</b></span></div><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span id="freeText17456763226031434761">Stacey Jay is a recovering workaholic (or at least working hard at recovering) with three pen names, two small children, and a passion for playing pretend for a living. She’s been a full time mom-writer since 2005 and can't think of anything she'd rather be doing. Her former careers include theatre performer, professional dancer, poorly paid C-movie actress, bartender, waiter, math tutor (for real) and yoga instructor.</span></i></span> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b>You ca<span style="font-size: small;">n find Stacey Jay her</span>e:</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.staceyjay.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WL-E10LNbZA/WLaqwbLR-TI/AAAAAAAACRg/qN7mGEDQn-gSaFhs7Ss_mWWJlS08D86BwCPcB/s1600/rss.png" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1691206.Stacey_Jay" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BtDBfny2iO8/WLAp5ur6CwI/AAAAAAAACLg/23DNFE_mEBQ4of4CcZkpBT2gMr96Zbi3wCPcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YgE6oZbU5Ww/WXcdYqXXpeI/AAAAAAAAC2I/zjbX6kve12I4EZpD7fTwEpLw3UAuRPJ5wCLcBGAs/s1600/staceyjay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1026" data-original-width="1416" height="231" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YgE6oZbU5Ww/WXcdYqXXpeI/AAAAAAAAC2I/zjbX6kve12I4EZpD7fTwEpLw3UAuRPJ5wCLcBGAs/s320/staceyjay.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤ </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Follow and Like</i> to Read More <i>Bookworm Blogger #YA</i> Reviews:</b></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-41eldXiqbRc/WLAsflS3nGI/AAAAAAAACL0/fYRh5lclvX4zPin4F6OQ6bbazrhWi3QvQCLcB/s1600/facebook.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" target="_blank"><img alt="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xOOCPtPyonQ/WLAsgDXJXVI/AAAAAAAACME/uR-ZY0ObpxoKnKFpYPfdUYSb3Q6HtgT6wCLcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k2nSQa2WGt4/WLAsfQtt2EI/AAAAAAAACLs/i7HybLqSSNg13BTOzepYFq2xMEJkby6hgCLcB/s1600/bloglovin.png" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57CMZYE-hIA/WLAsfZw4feI/AAAAAAAACLw/rxAzqwb37scW6sSadP6csFB9oIlWTZ9eQCLcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://charlottesbooks.tumblr.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iNPAc3E-gnE/WLaPgTeMsVI/AAAAAAAACQU/9pr5431hD74GV7U4s7FPXV77JWuQdhwRwCLcB/s1600/tumblr.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R5u7AjHsikg/WLAsgAqux6I/AAAAAAAACMA/V5K0xd5r1RYBLfCgD9Ab22qpPNgJFGHpACLcB/s1600/pinterest.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" target="_blank"><img alt="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Glw_DcJpyB0/WLAsf7ldGMI/AAAAAAAACL4/477mfmtG2WMl28-EyasJIbLbSURJRbRPQCLcB/s1600/google%252B.png" /></a></td><td><a href="mailto:bwormblogger@gmail.com" target="_blank"><img alt="bwormblogger@gmail.com" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d7yo6MW1sFM/WLAsf5FdGhI/AAAAAAAACL8/A3liVzPwlAUYYluvNkBAc5wJOOiJbFU8ACLcB/s1600/mail.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Charlotte Blackhttps://plus.google.com/101062532400721123197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430519442066245345.post-40696820759775866162017-07-25T10:29:00.001+01:002017-07-25T10:29:23.641+01:00Review: The Valiant (The Valiant #1) by Lesley Livingston<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0448493780/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=neverleavethe-21&amp;camp=1634&amp;creative=6738&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0448493780&amp;linkId=881a4c75e9c8cda8fd122463fd40d7e6" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0448493780/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=neverleavethe-21&amp;camp=1634&amp;creative=6738&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0448493780&amp;linkId=881a4c75e9c8cda8fd122463fd40d7e6" border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ksakN7ct2A0/WXb5HTUVF5I/AAAAAAAAC1M/nwuDQH0w32kQCMuysfpL1RQY6H6aoncgACLcBGAs/s400/Valiant.jpg" width="263" /><span id="goog_201402343"></span></a><span id="goog_201402344"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0448493780/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=neverleavethe-21&amp;camp=1634&amp;creative=6738&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0448493780&amp;linkId=881a4c75e9c8cda8fd122463fd40d7e6" target="_blank">The Valiant (The Valiant #1) by Lesley Livingston</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Published:</b> February 14th 2017 by Razorbill </div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<b>Rating</b>: 3 out of 5</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Available from:</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>&nbsp;</b></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0448493780/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=neverleavethe-21&amp;camp=1634&amp;creative=6738&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0448493780&amp;linkId=881a4c75e9c8cda8fd122463fd40d7e6" target="_blank"><img alt="Amazon" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cBN9n_YXFUQ/WPMuIbp36DI/AAAAAAAACmU/t267fGBL5xU1wPTZDw1_enJy13oBJMi4wCPcB/s1600/amazon.png" /></a><a href="http://www.dpbolvw.net/j4116vpyvpxCLGFJLFMCEDFLEIIE?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebooks.com%2Fcj.asp%3FIID%3D2602114&amp;cjsku=2602114" target="_blank"><img alt="eBooks.com=" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kFrWDUEgV3o/WPSRanNW-RI/AAAAAAAACmo/Hez2X7U_N0Ysjt-MxdVlnt_DX7cqeOdbACPcB/s1600/Ebooks.png" /></a><a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/Valiant/9780448493794?a_aid=BookwormBloggerYA" target="_blank"><img alt="Book Depository" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bSDz8VOCue8/WPSRahx90EI/AAAAAAAACmg/7l4DNQbahdMo2XaZS9gK65jCe6228sS4ACLcB/s1600/BookDepository.png" /></a><a href="http://www.tkqlhce.com/re70kjspjr6FA9DF9G689A9G98D?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%2Fw%2Fthe-valiant-lesley-livingston%2F1123839501%3Fean%3D9780448493800&amp;cjsku=9780448493800" target="_blank"><img alt="Barnes and Noble" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DLjYTrZGvN4/WQn88hamloI/AAAAAAAACqk/lbaiWu_2HGIfG3ejVEB5gfTIsF7BTw4xgCLcB/s1600/barnes-and-noble.png" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Synopsis:</b></span></div><i><br /></i><i>Princess. Captive. Gladiator.</i><br /><br />Fallon is the daughter of a proud Celtic king, the sister of the legendary warrior Sorcha, and the sworn enemy of Julius Caesar.<br /><br />When Fallon was a child, Caesar’s armies invaded her homeland, and her beloved sister was killed in battle.<br /><br />Now, on the eve of her seventeenth birthday, Fallon is eager to follow in her sister’s footsteps and earn her place in the fearsome Cantii war band. She never gets the chance.<br /><br />Fallon is captured and sold to an elite training school for female gladiators—owned by none other than Julius Caesar. In a cruel twist of fate, the man who destroyed Fallon’s family might be her only hope of survival.<br /><br />Now Fallon must overcome vicious rivalries and deadly fights—in and out of the arena. And perhaps the most dangerous threat of all: her forbidden yet irresistible feelings for Cai, a young Roman soldier. <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Review:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />A book I've been wanting to read for a while is The Valiant. I love history and anything to do with the Roman era so a female gladiator? Bring it!<br /><br />The story starts with Fallon, (not sure how Celtic that name is, but still). She's a tribal kings daughter, practising an attack move involving her friend, Mael, a chariot and spear. The move called Morrigan's Flight wasn't ever perfected by Fallon's brilliant deceased sister, who Fallon worshipped, but Fallon believes she can do it. It involves running along a pole and throwing the spear at a target, while standing between the horses.Fallon fails but her friend Mael suddenly gets all concerned when Fallon falls beneath the chariot and narrowly misses out on death. They've been friends since children, and now a different kind of edge to their friendship arises from Fallon falling from the attempted attack move. Mael kisses her, and Fallon understands that she's deeply attracted to Mael, and she never realised it before. <br /><br />That night at the ceremony to announce her possible joining of her fathers war band, Fallon is unexpectedly forced into a marriage arrangement with Mael's older brother, Aeddan, who is head of his own tribe. She knows she can't reason with her fathers decision so she rips off all her jewellery denoting her station as princess, and plans to run away with Mael. But Aedden gets to her first. Mael and Aedden fight, and Maels is mortally wounded. Now Fallon knows she has no choice but to run. But before she gets far she's knocked on the head by a stranger. She comes to in a boat, and despite her protests, she knows she's been captured by a slaver. Her fate is now in her own hands. She can try to escape and return home, to a marriage with a man she doesn't love and who murdered her new found love, or she can see where this road takes her. In the next months, she actually becomes friends with the slave master, called Charon, who takes a keen interest in her welfare despite the chains that now mark her neck and wrists. She also makes some friends and enemies amongst the other slave girls. Fallon proves her strength of character and never falls short of her desire to kill Julius Caesar, the man who killed her sister.<br /><br />Eventually, Fallon and her friend Elka, are paraded to be bought at a slave market. They are purchased by Lady Achillea who runs a ludus, a fighting school for female gladiators. The only thing is - the school is owned by Julius Caesar.<br /><br />From here, Fallon has to prove herself in the arena. And must prove herself in the ludus amongst the other spirited women who also have to fight in the arena on a regular basis. It's a fight for survival.<br /><br />Along the journey, Fallon meets Cai, a Roman Decurion. An officer in the legion of Julius Caesar. He also singles Fallon out and gets close to her. Eventually with romantic inclinations.<br /><br />Fallon is a strong character. Her indecisiveness around Cai is understandable because of her hewn hatred for the Romans, but she shows compassion when she gets to know him. He is only a man after all, and no one can help where they come from in the beginning. Fallon also discovers the truth about her sister, and some more truths about her father. But mostly, Fallon lives her life in the Ludus and becomes a really strong warrior.<br /><br />This is the part where I get stuck. Because amongst all of this that has happened, which if I'm being honest, I saw straight out of Gladiator (even some of the dialogue is similar), there isn't an awful lot else that happens that is not clichéd or anything you haven't seen before, including the nasty girl and the hidden enemy who wants you dead.<br /><br />As much as I was looking forward to Valiant, I didn't read anything that was completely original and beyond anything I'd heard or read before, which is a shame, because so much is known for the Roman era but also so little is known.<br /><br />I am looking forward to the next book in this duology, but I couldn't help feeling disappointed at the end.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />-CBx</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤ </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>About the Author</b></span></div><br /><i><span id="freeText17456763226031434761">LESLEY LIVINGSTON is a writer living in Toronto, Canada. She is the author of twelve books to date. Her first novel, WONDROUS STRANGE, was winner of the CLA Young Adult Book of the Year 2010, a White Pine Honour Book, shortlisted for the Sunburst Award for Excellence in Canadian Speculative Fiction, and in 2015 was named one of CBC’s “100 YA Books That Make You Proud To Be Canadian”. DARKLIGHT, the second book in this series was a finalist for the Indigo Teen Read Awards. The concluding volume in the trilogy, TEMPESTUOUS, was a finalist for the Monica Hughes Award. These books have sold to more than ten countries to date, and WONDROUS STRANGE has been optioned for film/TV by Shaftesbury Films. Her other trilogies have both won the Copper Cylinder award for Young Adult fiction.</span></i> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b>You can find Lesley Livingston here:</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lesleylivingston.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WL-E10LNbZA/WLaqwbLR-TI/AAAAAAAACRg/qN7mGEDQn-gSaFhs7Ss_mWWJlS08D86BwCPcB/s1600/rss.png" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1312879.Lesley_Livingston" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BtDBfny2iO8/WLAp5ur6CwI/AAAAAAAACLg/23DNFE_mEBQ4of4CcZkpBT2gMr96Zbi3wCPcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B0qxuvei30k/WXb6gluvUsI/AAAAAAAAC1U/9pnh9MB-qogF3WbGWRtxzytdnl-KbbHuACLcBGAs/s1600/LLivingston.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B0qxuvei30k/WXb6gluvUsI/AAAAAAAAC1U/9pnh9MB-qogF3WbGWRtxzytdnl-KbbHuACLcBGAs/s1600/LLivingston.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤ </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Follow and Like</i> to Read More <i>Bookworm Blogger #YA</i> Reviews:</b></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-41eldXiqbRc/WLAsflS3nGI/AAAAAAAACL0/fYRh5lclvX4zPin4F6OQ6bbazrhWi3QvQCLcB/s1600/facebook.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" target="_blank"><img alt="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xOOCPtPyonQ/WLAsgDXJXVI/AAAAAAAACME/uR-ZY0ObpxoKnKFpYPfdUYSb3Q6HtgT6wCLcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k2nSQa2WGt4/WLAsfQtt2EI/AAAAAAAACLs/i7HybLqSSNg13BTOzepYFq2xMEJkby6hgCLcB/s1600/bloglovin.png" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57CMZYE-hIA/WLAsfZw4feI/AAAAAAAACLw/rxAzqwb37scW6sSadP6csFB9oIlWTZ9eQCLcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://charlottesbooks.tumblr.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iNPAc3E-gnE/WLaPgTeMsVI/AAAAAAAACQU/9pr5431hD74GV7U4s7FPXV77JWuQdhwRwCLcB/s1600/tumblr.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R5u7AjHsikg/WLAsgAqux6I/AAAAAAAACMA/V5K0xd5r1RYBLfCgD9Ab22qpPNgJFGHpACLcB/s1600/pinterest.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" target="_blank"><img alt="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Glw_DcJpyB0/WLAsf7ldGMI/AAAAAAAACL4/477mfmtG2WMl28-EyasJIbLbSURJRbRPQCLcB/s1600/google%252B.png" /></a></td><td><a href="mailto:bwormblogger@gmail.com" target="_blank"><img alt="bwormblogger@gmail.com" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d7yo6MW1sFM/WLAsf5FdGhI/AAAAAAAACL8/A3liVzPwlAUYYluvNkBAc5wJOOiJbFU8ACLcB/s1600/mail.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Charlotte Blackhttps://plus.google.com/101062532400721123197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430519442066245345.post-7390975942800311262017-07-25T08:41:00.000+01:002017-07-25T08:51:40.028+01:00Review: Wintersong (Wintersong #1) by S. Jae-Jones <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1785655442/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=neverleavethe-21&amp;camp=1634&amp;creative=6738&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=1785655442&amp;linkId=f314984c6eb02d82d46659875d38b233" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1785655442/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=neverleavethe-21&amp;camp=1634&amp;creative=6738&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=1785655442&amp;linkId=f314984c6eb02d82d46659875d38b233" border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="312" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SEGj5zu8rFk/WXbrlCQGsnI/AAAAAAAAC0g/eZH2Xnv3jckkMeRoRHwq3MwOOrZq0RadwCLcBGAs/s400/Wintersong.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1785655442/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=neverleavethe-21&amp;camp=1634&amp;creative=6738&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=1785655442&amp;linkId=f314984c6eb02d82d46659875d38b233" target="_blank">Wintersong (Wintersong #1) by S. Jae-Jones </a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Published:</b> February 7th 2017 by Titan Books </div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<b>Rating</b>: 2 out of 5</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Available from:</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>&nbsp;</b></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1785655442/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=neverleavethe-21&amp;camp=1634&amp;creative=6738&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=1785655442&amp;linkId=f314984c6eb02d82d46659875d38b233" target="_blank"><img alt="Amazon" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cBN9n_YXFUQ/WPMuIbp36DI/AAAAAAAACmU/t267fGBL5xU1wPTZDw1_enJy13oBJMi4wCPcB/s1600/amazon.png" /></a><a href="http://www.dpbolvw.net/pe122shqnhp4D87BD7E4657D6AA6?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebooks.com%2Fcj.asp%3FIID%3D95668206&amp;cjsku=95668206" target="_blank"><img alt="eBooks.com=" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kFrWDUEgV3o/WPSRanNW-RI/AAAAAAAACmo/Hez2X7U_N0Ysjt-MxdVlnt_DX7cqeOdbACPcB/s1600/Ebooks.png" /></a><a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/Wintersong-S-Jae-Jones/9781785655449?a_aid=BookwormBloggerYA" target="_blank"><img alt="Book Depository" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bSDz8VOCue8/WPSRahx90EI/AAAAAAAACmg/7l4DNQbahdMo2XaZS9gK65jCe6228sS4ACLcB/s1600/BookDepository.png" /></a><a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/8e77p-85-7NWRQUWQXNPQRQXQPU?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%2Fw%2Fwintersong-s-jae-jones%2F1123132979%3Fean%3D9781466892040&amp;cjsku=9781466892040" target="_blank"><img alt="Barnes and Noble" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DLjYTrZGvN4/WQn88hamloI/AAAAAAAACqk/lbaiWu_2HGIfG3ejVEB5gfTIsF7BTw4xgCLcB/s1600/barnes-and-noble.png" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Synopsis:</b></span></div><br /><i>Beware the goblin men and the wares they sell.</i><br /><br />All her life, nineteen-year-old Liesl has heard tales of the beautiful, mysterious Goblin King. He is the Lord of Mischief, the Ruler Underground, and the muse around which her music is composed. Yet, as Liesl helps shoulder the burden of running her family’s inn, her dreams of composition and childish fancies about the Goblin King must be set aside in favor of more practical concerns.<br /><br />But when her sister Käthe is taken by the goblins, Liesl journeys to their realm to rescue her sister and return her to the world above. The Goblin King agrees to let Käthe go—for a price. The life of a maiden must be given to the land, in accordance with the old laws. <i>A life for a life</i>, he says. Without sacrifice, nothing good can grow. Without death, there can be no rebirth. In exchange for her sister’s freedom, Liesl offers her hand in marriage to the Goblin King. He accepts.<br /><br />Down in the Underground, Liesl discovers that the Goblin King still inspires her—musically, physically, emotionally. Yet even as her talent blossoms, Liesl’s life is slowly fading away, the price she paid for becoming the Goblin King’s bride. As the two of them grow closer, they must learn just what it is they are each willing to sacrifice: her life, her music, or the end of the world.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Review:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Wintersong is a keen start to a duology that focuses on pretty poetic language, with a pseudo historical story of a girls slow burning love for a fabled goblin king.<br /><br />While I admit the writing is classy and spellbinding in the most, I found the story to be a little drab. Elizabeth is the middle child of two eccentric parents. One who used to be a worldly musician turned drunk and one who's effervescent nature attracts the locals to drink at her tavern. On a night, the towners come to be either entertained or to gossip.<br /><br />Elizabeths sister, Kathe, is the belle of the town. She is a beautiful by nature but we soon learn that she stole Elizabeths love interest, and now Hans comes across as creepy rather than the lover scorned. Liesl, (she has two names in this book) also has a younger prodigy brother who is a marvel when he plays the violin. Liesl herself is a musician too and plays the klavier (piano) but is constantly being put down by her father. She helps Josef train for his audition which will take his to music halls around Europe, if he impresses the Maestro.<br /><br />One day, while shopping in the town Liesl and her sister come across the goblin sellers of the market, and she gets her first sighting of the goblin king. Naturally, she finds him alluring but strange, and she encourages her sister, Kathe, away. But the goblin king tries to lure Liesl to the goblin world by using Kathe. She then makes a bargain to exchange places with her.<br /><br />From here the story is really, really slow. So much that I began to lose interest. There also wasn't a whole lot of story going on, once you got past all the purple prose and constant droning of Liesl going on about how plain she is, and how her music isn't that great because everyone tells her. You see, the Goblin king is enchanted by her music, and even tells Liesl that its her music he wants to hear, not her.<br /><br />Personally, I didn't find the story romantic, or even a slow burning love, the constant flips between emotions made it impossible for me to even like the two main characters. Liesl couldn't ever decide if she wanted to stay with the goblin king. And the goblin king seemed to prefer his 'god' to anything else. This was also a no-no for me. You can't bring this worlds religions into a YA fantasy.<br /><br />At the end, this isn't a faery or goblin story with its wild parties (I think there was one but that was all) and its wild hunts, and its seelie/unseelie versus who's going to rule when someone off's the goblin king. This is really a story which shades on the intricacies of leading a normal boring life to, maybe, living underground with someone who can't decide if he wants you or your talent.<br /><br />So, in short, I didn't enjoy this as much as I'd hoped. Too wishy-washy and drawn out to really get a grips with the little story there was.<br /><br />The writing, however was diverse enough to read in the beginning, but even then I got bored with its over-poetic-ness and lyrical eccentricity.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />-CBx</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤ </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>About the Author</b></span></div><br /><i><span id="freeText17456763226031434761">S. Jae-Jones, called JJ, is an artist, an adrenaline junkie, and the author of <i>Wintersong</i>, forthcoming from Thomas Dunne in February 2017.<br /><br />Born and raised in sunny Los Angeles, she lived in New York City for ten years before relocating down to Dixie, where she is comfortably growing fat on grits and barbecue. When not writing, she can be found rock-climbing, skydiving, taking photographs, drawing pictures, and dragging her dog on ridiculously long hikes.</span></i> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b>You can find S. Jae-Jones here:</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sjaejones.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WL-E10LNbZA/WLaqwbLR-TI/AAAAAAAACRg/qN7mGEDQn-gSaFhs7Ss_mWWJlS08D86BwCPcB/s1600/rss.png" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13414088.S_Jae_Jones" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BtDBfny2iO8/WLAp5ur6CwI/AAAAAAAACLg/23DNFE_mEBQ4of4CcZkpBT2gMr96Zbi3wCPcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a><a href="http://www.twitter.com/sjaejones" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zmNRlW2poRA/WLAp6MW8gsI/AAAAAAAACLg/wVhW5DIW4dkoD3pqZS0bv_6SKEBO-c7lwCPcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Crji8n-hJLg/WXbtP7wPArI/AAAAAAAAC0s/R88SSoUrdNc5TxcZzAXOIawwrq4bpzENACLcBGAs/s1600/SJJones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Crji8n-hJLg/WXbtP7wPArI/AAAAAAAAC0s/R88SSoUrdNc5TxcZzAXOIawwrq4bpzENACLcBGAs/s200/SJJones.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤ </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Follow and Like</i> to Read More <i>Bookworm Blogger #YA</i> Reviews:</b></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-41eldXiqbRc/WLAsflS3nGI/AAAAAAAACL0/fYRh5lclvX4zPin4F6OQ6bbazrhWi3QvQCLcB/s1600/facebook.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" target="_blank"><img alt="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xOOCPtPyonQ/WLAsgDXJXVI/AAAAAAAACME/uR-ZY0ObpxoKnKFpYPfdUYSb3Q6HtgT6wCLcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k2nSQa2WGt4/WLAsfQtt2EI/AAAAAAAACLs/i7HybLqSSNg13BTOzepYFq2xMEJkby6hgCLcB/s1600/bloglovin.png" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57CMZYE-hIA/WLAsfZw4feI/AAAAAAAACLw/rxAzqwb37scW6sSadP6csFB9oIlWTZ9eQCLcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://charlottesbooks.tumblr.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iNPAc3E-gnE/WLaPgTeMsVI/AAAAAAAACQU/9pr5431hD74GV7U4s7FPXV77JWuQdhwRwCLcB/s1600/tumblr.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R5u7AjHsikg/WLAsgAqux6I/AAAAAAAACMA/V5K0xd5r1RYBLfCgD9Ab22qpPNgJFGHpACLcB/s1600/pinterest.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" target="_blank"><img alt="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Glw_DcJpyB0/WLAsf7ldGMI/AAAAAAAACL4/477mfmtG2WMl28-EyasJIbLbSURJRbRPQCLcB/s1600/google%252B.png" /></a></td><td><a href="mailto:bwormblogger@gmail.com" target="_blank"><img alt="bwormblogger@gmail.com" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d7yo6MW1sFM/WLAsf5FdGhI/AAAAAAAACL8/A3liVzPwlAUYYluvNkBAc5wJOOiJbFU8ACLcB/s1600/mail.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div>Charlotte Blackhttps://plus.google.com/101062532400721123197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430519442066245345.post-28300315644201062192017-07-06T13:47:00.001+01:002017-07-06T13:50:21.814+01:00Review: The Beauty of Darkness (The Remnant Chronicles #3) by Mary E. Pearson <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2tq48xk" target="_blank"><img alt="http://amzn.to/2tq48xk" border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lxPzAhPJiVw/WUmEaPSLGvI/AAAAAAAAC0I/jI9ifWsLVRIAPQGfS6f_Hoyh5W3RJvf9ACLcBGAs/s400/BeautyDark.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://amzn.to/2tq48xk" target="_blank">The Beauty of Darkness (The Remnant Chronicles #3) </a></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://amzn.to/2tq48xk" target="_blank">by Mary E. Pearson </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=albwormblogge-20&amp;l=am2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0316234494" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Published:</b>&nbsp;August 2nd 2016 by Henry Holt</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<b>Rating</b>: 4 out of 5</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Available from:</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>&nbsp;</b></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2tq48xk" target="_blank"><img alt="Amazon" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cBN9n_YXFUQ/WPMuIbp36DI/AAAAAAAACmU/t267fGBL5xU1wPTZDw1_enJy13oBJMi4wCPcB/s1600/amazon.png" /></a><a href="http://www.tkqlhce.com/kb102qgpmgo3C76AC6D3546C5995?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebooks.com%2Fcj.asp%3FIID%3D2507044&amp;cjsku=2507044" target="_blank"><img alt="eBooks.com=" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kFrWDUEgV3o/WPSRanNW-RI/AAAAAAAACmo/Hez2X7U_N0Ysjt-MxdVlnt_DX7cqeOdbACPcB/s1600/Ebooks.png" /></a><a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/Beauty-Darkness/9781250115317?a_aid=BookwormBloggerYA" target="_blank"><img alt="Book Depository" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bSDz8VOCue8/WPSRahx90EI/AAAAAAAACmg/7l4DNQbahdMo2XaZS9gK65jCe6228sS4ACLcB/s1600/BookDepository.png" /></a><a href="http://www.jdoqocy.com/e5103xdmjdl0943793A02343A327?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%2Fw%2Fthe-beauty-of-darkness-mary-e-pearson%2F1122341836%3Fean%3D9781627796521&amp;cjsku=9781627796521" target="_blank"><img alt="Barnes and Noble" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DLjYTrZGvN4/WQn88hamloI/AAAAAAAACqk/lbaiWu_2HGIfG3ejVEB5gfTIsF7BTw4xgCLcB/s1600/barnes-and-noble.png" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Synopsis:</b></span></div><br />Lia has survived Venda—but so has a great evil bent on the destruction of Morrighan. And only Lia can stop it.<br /><br />With war on the horizon, Lia has no choice but to assume her role as First Daughter, as soldier—as leader. While she struggles to reach Morrighan and warn them, she finds herself at cross-purposes with Rafe and suspicious of Kaden, who has hunted her down.<br /><br />In this conclusion to the Remnant Chronicles trilogy, traitors must be rooted out, sacrifices must be made, and impossible odds must be overcome as the future of every kingdom hangs in the balance.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />✤✤✤✤</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a name='more'></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Review:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />This is a very weak 4 out of 5 for a book series that I've loved so far, but for me, fell way short of a promising ending. Not short in story, no, no. This book is 690-odd pages long, and it feels long too. Personally I think the author had too much story yet to tell for one book and BoD should have been the 3rd book out of 4. I think this is the reason why I wasn't loving the story from the start, and I really wanted to love it for Lia's sake.<br /><br />In BoD, just like the first two there is a lot going on. Lia is badly injured from her escaping Venda. Rafe and his crew are taking care of her, though its difficult while they're themselves trying to flee cross-country back to Dalbreck. Lia begins to recover on the journey and manages to get to know her new comrades, as Rafe does. Soon they realise they're being followed. They catch Kaden and Gris and decide to tie them up and bring them along too. Sooner rather than later the group meet trouble, and need the two captives to fight Vendans adamant on recovering Lia. when they've dispatached their opponents the group decide to give Kaden and Gris free-rein.<br /><br />Rafe insists that Lia's place is by his side, they are in love after all, and they should all return to Dalbreck. But Lia wants to return to Morrigan. This is where the relationship breaks down. Reluctantly, Rafe lets Lia go her own way, along with Kaden as her bodyguard. But resentment simmers underneath on both sides.<br /><br />My first reaction to this was to agree with Lia. She must return home, despite what she's being told about being a fugitive. She has to get the truth back to her parents, and discover who's been making her father sick.<br /><br />From here on in, Lia changes. She becomes a little more self-centred and tunnel visioned. Okay, I understand why. No one is fighting her battle but her, and she feels she is the only one who is able to stop the wickedness in the royal court. When she arrives in Morrigan she finds out her brothers have been sent away because of the danger.<br /><br />Rafe also has to make sacrifices. He has to agree to a new union of marriage to be able to secure the army he needs when he assists Lia in Morrigan. This, of course, was a real shock, and somewhat smoothly dissolved later on in the story, which made me wonder if it was even necessary to begin with.<br /><br />Thankfully, we have Pauline and Kaden's point of views to fall back on. Those two, who might be side characters, really add to the story and give you the full perspective, when Lia and Rafe become very single minded. Pauline and her friends become Lia's voice of reason, and together they prove what girl power is all about.<br /><br />There are issues I have with the final battle. For instance, Lia 'knew' thanks to her gifts where the battle would take place, and also knew that the Komizar had survived. Plus, I thought the end of the battle was a little flaky with the Komizar dying as he did.<br /><br />All in all, I did really enjoy the series and the story but thought the pressure of such a great ending was lost, and after a the finale didn't feel the hope I wanted to for the two heroes of the story.<br /><br />-CBx</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤ </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>About the Author</b></span></div><br /><i>Mary E. Pearson is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of ten novels.&nbsp; Her works include her latest trilogy, <i>The Kiss of Deception, The Heart of Betrayal</i>, and the forthcoming <i>The Beauty of Darkness</i> which will be published in August. <i>The Adoration of Jenna Fox</i>, and the other books in the series have been optioned for film, and <i>A Room on Lorelei Street</i> was a Golden Kite Award Winner. She writes full-time from her home office in California where she lives with her husband.</i> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b>You can find Mary E. Pearson here:</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.marypearson.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WL-E10LNbZA/WLaqwbLR-TI/AAAAAAAACRg/qN7mGEDQn-gSaFhs7Ss_mWWJlS08D86BwCPcB/s1600/rss.png" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/123463.Mary_E_Pearson" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BtDBfny2iO8/WLAp5ur6CwI/AAAAAAAACLg/23DNFE_mEBQ4of4CcZkpBT2gMr96Zbi3wCPcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a><a href="https://twitter.com/marypearson" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zmNRlW2poRA/WLAp6MW8gsI/AAAAAAAACLg/wVhW5DIW4dkoD3pqZS0bv_6SKEBO-c7lwCPcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dapzdmVd98s/WTz81fMfNuI/AAAAAAAACyw/vieA9xHxBoYGTGkXIoP7qJm098zJygKHgCLcB/s1600/MaryPearson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="172" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dapzdmVd98s/WTz81fMfNuI/AAAAAAAACyw/vieA9xHxBoYGTGkXIoP7qJm098zJygKHgCLcB/s1600/MaryPearson.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤ </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Follow and Like</i> to Read More <i>Bookworm Blogger #YA</i> Reviews:</b></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-41eldXiqbRc/WLAsflS3nGI/AAAAAAAACL0/fYRh5lclvX4zPin4F6OQ6bbazrhWi3QvQCLcB/s1600/facebook.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" target="_blank"><img alt="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xOOCPtPyonQ/WLAsgDXJXVI/AAAAAAAACME/uR-ZY0ObpxoKnKFpYPfdUYSb3Q6HtgT6wCLcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k2nSQa2WGt4/WLAsfQtt2EI/AAAAAAAACLs/i7HybLqSSNg13BTOzepYFq2xMEJkby6hgCLcB/s1600/bloglovin.png" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57CMZYE-hIA/WLAsfZw4feI/AAAAAAAACLw/rxAzqwb37scW6sSadP6csFB9oIlWTZ9eQCLcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://charlottesbooks.tumblr.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iNPAc3E-gnE/WLaPgTeMsVI/AAAAAAAACQU/9pr5431hD74GV7U4s7FPXV77JWuQdhwRwCLcB/s1600/tumblr.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R5u7AjHsikg/WLAsgAqux6I/AAAAAAAACMA/V5K0xd5r1RYBLfCgD9Ab22qpPNgJFGHpACLcB/s1600/pinterest.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" target="_blank"><img alt="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Glw_DcJpyB0/WLAsf7ldGMI/AAAAAAAACL4/477mfmtG2WMl28-EyasJIbLbSURJRbRPQCLcB/s1600/google%252B.png" /></a></td><td><a href="mailto:bwormblogger@gmail.com" target="_blank"><img alt="bwormblogger@gmail.com" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d7yo6MW1sFM/WLAsf5FdGhI/AAAAAAAACL8/A3liVzPwlAUYYluvNkBAc5wJOOiJbFU8ACLcB/s1600/mail.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div>Charlotte Blackhttps://plus.google.com/101062532400721123197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430519442066245345.post-87996795277012390192017-06-11T20:00:00.000+01:002017-06-11T20:00:04.571+01:00*Book Blitz* & Author Q&A - Spellcaster by George Bachman<div style="text-align: left;"><h2><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_ZyVoaWSgP4/WT04sX0kbiI/AAAAAAAACzQ/qzaqVfvUxkANmckfnYtwA1L4-2COnOWawCLcB/s1600/Spellcaster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="413" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_ZyVoaWSgP4/WT04sX0kbiI/AAAAAAAACzQ/qzaqVfvUxkANmckfnYtwA1L4-2COnOWawCLcB/s400/Spellcaster.jpg" width="266" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Spellcaster</b></span></h2></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>by George Bachman</b></h3><div><b>Publisher:</b> Sublime Ltd</div><div><b>Date of Publishing:</b> April 3rd 2017</div><div><b>Genre: </b>YA Fantasy</div><div><b>Suggested Ages:</b> 12+</div><i><br />Christine Daniel suffers in ways no sixteen year-old should and that no doctor has been able to cure. That's because the excruciating pains and high fevers slowly debilitating her aren't triggered by a physical cause but by visions of a youth calling to her while fleeing a mysterious man who means him harm. This could hardly be happening at a worse time, when she and her beautiful older sister Allison are making their début in high society, like other wealthy socialites seeking matches with titled but impoverished gentlemen in Victorian England.<br /><br />Because of his pleas, Christine is convinced that to stop the visions she must somehow save this youth. But first she has to find him, and since she's seen him only in visions, she needs someone who'd know how to locate someone through means outside the known senses, the paranormal. Unfortunately the authorities have driven underground all but one of the country's occultists, and the reason she isn't hiding is the only reason she might help Christine, something she wants in return. Christine must convince Allison to marry the occultist's lover, one of those impoverished gentlemen, so that the illicit pair can share her part of the family fortune while continuing their affair.<br /><br />If Christine doesn't stop the visions by saving the youth, the pains and fevers will eventually kill her. But if she does what the occultist wants, she will betray Allison to a lifetime of misery. Can she lead her sister into a marriage with a very bad man if doing so is the only way to save her own skin - literally?</i><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><h3><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Read and Buy Here:</b></span></h3></div><div class="column"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34803159-spellcaster" target="_blank"><img alt="Goodreads" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GxCjjUEATuM/WLAYL9FsTMI/AAAAAAAACKk/PXU1yXP6aQUH3faZzOca4XLXZSXNogc5gCPcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Spellcaster-George-Bachman-ebook/dp/B06Y1FMY33" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0050P3YXA/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B0050P3YXA&amp;linkId=d1aeae602612d078852f8f93bbe8fd08" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V7vDRCSo-Oo/WLAYLVV5jiI/AAAAAAAACKk/RMtNCa6Ark4Y3NQ0LItazDZkvN7Dy6nYgCPcB/s1600/amazon.png" /></a><a href="http://www.tkqlhce.com/m077vpyvpxCLGFJLFMCEFGFMFEJ?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%2Fw%2Fspellcaster-george-bachman%2F1126166224%3Fean%3D2940154097526&amp;cjsku=2940154097526" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.kqzyfj.com/qd122uoxuowBKFEIKELBDDKDDHLJ?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%2Fw%2Ftoonopolis-jeremy-rodden%2F1101314250%3Fean%3D9780983425397&amp;cjsku=9780983425397" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JxWtVnGXxU4/WLAYLjwYsrI/AAAAAAAACKk/LzDQL6wSUSA-s47jHr0LZKyL0ifZ1WUJQCPcB/s1600/barnes-and-noble.png" /></a></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Meet the Author Q&amp;A - George Bachman</u></b></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: center;"><br /></h3><b>What made you want to to write books?</b><br /><br />I love to create worlds mostly unbound to everyday reality.<br /><br /><b>Where does your inspiration come from?</b><br /><br />Anything I read and see usually becomes inspiration in some way.<br /><br /><b>How long have you been writing?</b><br /><br />Since I could remember. Trying to scratch out stories on notepads are among my earliest memories.<br /><br /><b>What's your daily routine?</b><br /><br />I start at nine and usually go to one, break an hour for lunch, and then work till five. Sometimes I'll work much longer.<br /><br /><b>How long does it take you to write a book - From the first word to completion?</b><br /><br />On average, about two years.<br /><br /><b>What do you do in your spare time?</b><br /><br />Collect manga and anime, soak in the city, travel, read, ruminate.<br /><br /><b>TV shows - what's your favourite, past and present?</b><br /><br />Past: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Sandbaggers, and Xena. Present: Skins and The Wire. Favorite anime -- past: .hack//Signs, Clannad, .hack//Roots, Inuyasha, Air. Present: Hanasaku Iroha, Shirabako, Sayonara Zetsoubi-Sensei, Your Lie in April.<br /><b><br />Do you have any future projects you're working on?</b><br /><br />A historical thriller that involves Giordano Bruno and the Embassy Affair...and also angels, John Dee, and the Spanish Armada.</div><div class="column"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Follow George Here:</b></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/100589.George_Bachman" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57CMZYE-hIA/WLAsfZw4feI/AAAAAAAACLw/rxAzqwb37scW6sSadP6csFB9oIlWTZ9eQCLcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/OfficialBachman" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-41eldXiqbRc/WLAsflS3nGI/AAAAAAAACL0/fYRh5lclvX4zPin4F6OQ6bbazrhWi3QvQCLcB/s1600/facebook.png" /></a><a href="https://twitter.com/OfficialBachman" target="_blank"><img alt="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xOOCPtPyonQ/WLAsgDXJXVI/AAAAAAAACME/uR-ZY0ObpxoKnKFpYPfdUYSb3Q6HtgT6wCLcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Follow and Like</i> to Read More News and <i>Bookworm Blogger #YA</i> Reviews:</b></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-41eldXiqbRc/WLAsflS3nGI/AAAAAAAACL0/fYRh5lclvX4zPin4F6OQ6bbazrhWi3QvQCLcB/s1600/facebook.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" target="_blank"><img alt="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xOOCPtPyonQ/WLAsgDXJXVI/AAAAAAAACME/uR-ZY0ObpxoKnKFpYPfdUYSb3Q6HtgT6wCLcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k2nSQa2WGt4/WLAsfQtt2EI/AAAAAAAACLs/i7HybLqSSNg13BTOzepYFq2xMEJkby6hgCLcB/s1600/bloglovin.png" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57CMZYE-hIA/WLAsfZw4feI/AAAAAAAACLw/rxAzqwb37scW6sSadP6csFB9oIlWTZ9eQCLcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://charlottesbooks.tumblr.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iNPAc3E-gnE/WLaPgTeMsVI/AAAAAAAACQU/9pr5431hD74GV7U4s7FPXV77JWuQdhwRwCLcB/s1600/tumblr.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R5u7AjHsikg/WLAsgAqux6I/AAAAAAAACMA/V5K0xd5r1RYBLfCgD9Ab22qpPNgJFGHpACLcB/s1600/pinterest.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" target="_blank"><img alt="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Glw_DcJpyB0/WLAsf7ldGMI/AAAAAAAACL4/477mfmtG2WMl28-EyasJIbLbSURJRbRPQCLcB/s1600/google%252B.png" /></a></td><td><a href="mailto:bwormblogger@gmail.com" target="_blank"><img alt="bwormblogger@gmail.com" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d7yo6MW1sFM/WLAsf5FdGhI/AAAAAAAACL8/A3liVzPwlAUYYluvNkBAc5wJOOiJbFU8ACLcB/s1600/mail.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Charlotte Blackhttps://plus.google.com/101062532400721123197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430519442066245345.post-83197318008440883282017-06-11T12:26:00.000+01:002017-06-20T21:44:42.068+01:00Review: The Heart of Betrayal (The Remnant Chronicles #2) by Mary E. Pearson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1250080029/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=neverleavethe-21&amp;camp=1634&amp;creative=6738&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=1250080029&amp;linkId=b648d21a4e913c9821bedafefa43052e" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1250080029/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=neverleavethe-21&amp;camp=1634&amp;creative=6738&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=1250080029&amp;linkId=b648d21a4e913c9821bedafefa43052e" border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="313" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZuKB5jkHVg/WT0RYRiUavI/AAAAAAAACzA/89zHQXojyIUI7gp_2XCfjWaiv_XfmXoKwCLcB/s400/HeartBetrayal.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1250080029/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=neverleavethe-21&amp;camp=1634&amp;creative=6738&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=1250080029&amp;linkId=b648d21a4e913c9821bedafefa43052e" target="_blank">The Heart of Betrayal (The Remnant Chronicles #2) </a></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles #1) by Mary E. Pearson" target="_blank">by Mary E. Pearson </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=albwormblogge-20&amp;l=am2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0316234494" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Published:</b>&nbsp;July 7th 2015 by Henry Holt</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<b>Rating</b>: 4 out of 5</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Available from:</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>&nbsp;</b></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1250080029/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=neverleavethe-21&amp;camp=1634&amp;creative=6738&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=1250080029&amp;linkId=b648d21a4e913c9821bedafefa43052e" target="_blank"><img alt="Amazon" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cBN9n_YXFUQ/WPMuIbp36DI/AAAAAAAACmU/t267fGBL5xU1wPTZDw1_enJy13oBJMi4wCPcB/s1600/amazon.png" /></a><a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/c4106mu2-u1HQLKOQKRHJIKQJNNJ?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebooks.com%2Fcj.asp%3FIID%3D1891441&amp;cjsku=1891441" target="_blank"><img alt="eBooks.com=" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kFrWDUEgV3o/WPSRanNW-RI/AAAAAAAACmo/Hez2X7U_N0Ysjt-MxdVlnt_DX7cqeOdbACPcB/s1600/Ebooks.png" /></a><a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/The-Heart-of-Betrayal-Mary-E-Pearson/9781250080028?a_aid=BookwormBloggerYA" target="_blank"><img alt="Book Depository" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bSDz8VOCue8/WPSRahx90EI/AAAAAAAACmg/7l4DNQbahdMo2XaZS9gK65jCe6228sS4ACLcB/s1600/BookDepository.png" /></a><a href="http://www.dpbolvw.net/g5102biroiq5E98CE8F57898F87C?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%2Fw%2Fthe-heart-of-betrayal-mary-e-pearson%2F1119966016%3Fean%3D9781627794701&amp;cjsku=9781627794701" target="_blank"><img alt="Barnes and Noble" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DLjYTrZGvN4/WQn88hamloI/AAAAAAAACqk/lbaiWu_2HGIfG3ejVEB5gfTIsF7BTw4xgCLcB/s1600/barnes-and-noble.png" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Synopsis:</b></span></div><br />Held captive in the barbarian kingdom of Venda, Lia and Rafe have little chance of escape. Desperate to save Lia's life, her erstwhile assassin, Kaden, has told the Vendan Komizar that she has the gift, and the Komizar's interest in Lia is greater than anyone could have foreseen.<br /><br />Meanwhile, nothing is straightforward: There's Rafe, who lied to Lia but has sacrificed his freedom to protect her; Kaden, who meant to assassinate her but has now saved her life; and the Vendans, whom Lia always believed to be savages. Now that she lives among them, however, she realizes that may be far from the truth. Wrestling with her upbringing, her gift, and her sense of self, Lia must make powerful choices that will affect her country... and her own destiny.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />✤✤✤✤</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a name='more'></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Review:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />I read this in a day and I was gripped by the story of Lia and the Komizar, and how Kaden and Rafe would each play a part at the downfall of Venda. But, as always, nothing was it seemed.<br /><br />I was pleasantly surprised by this sequel as, mostly, sequels tend to run out of story and use fillers to even the flow. But Ms Pearson used the story of Venda to open up our characters minds to the givings and misgivings of its leader and the people. And both are very different from what our main character, Lia, thought in good ways and bad.<br /><br />Lia is glorified prisoner, staying in Kaden's chambers. She knows the Komizar is only keeping her alive because of her gift so she fakes it a few times to keep herself alive. She's found new allies in the Vendan people. Gradually, as she learns Vendan history is a close cousin to Morrighan's, she begins to understand the story she's being told thanks to her gift. She believes the Vendan people are good and starts telling them stories from a very old text book. The crowds of Vendans soon grows and soon she has a great deal of clout against the Komizar. The Komizar decides to even this faith out he must marry Lia. She, seemingly, agrees much to Rafe and Kaden's horror.<br /><br />Rafe is pretending he's an emissary of the crown prince of Dalbreck, which is who he actually is. His job is to stay alive also by quietly colluding with the Komizar to gain favour. He witnesses Lia's change, but also begins to realise how much he loves her and their romance expands. Secretly his men are infiltrating the city and at the right time he will escape with Lia far beyond Vendan borders.<br /><br />Kaden is the Komizar's brother in arms, a Rahtan, a chosen elite guard who the Komizar rescued from a young boy. The problem is the Komizar holds this over Kaden's head at every opportunity. Kaden holds his allegiance despite his feelings for Lia, but when the Komizar announces his plans to marry Lia, Kaden believes the Komizar has stepped too far and breached their friendship.<br /><br />Now, with Lia telling the Vendans the true story of their past, and Rafe and Kaden both looking for opportunities to remove Lia from a hostile palace, the clock is ticking. Will Lia get out in time? Will the Komizar descend Venda into war against Lia's own people. Will they get out alive?<br /><br />As always with high fantasy you have to read the whole book, and to keep the story straight in your mind, you cannot skim this one. The swing between tales of ancients, the Venda story, and Morrighans own sad tale begins to take president in Lia and her gift grows exponentially. She's now more devout than ever, a true believer, and the Vendan people love her for it. For once they see a leader who believes in them and the root of who they are.<br /><br />While those three are playing politics in Venda, Pauline and Gwyneth secret get into Morrighan. The King is dying of grief, after the news of his eldest son's slaughter and stories that Lia has betrayed her kingdom and also killed her own older brother. The stories are coming from deceivers inside the royal palace. Pauline knows she has to get to Lia's brothers and tell them the truth before they officially confirm Lia as a traitor. Pauline and Gwyneth play their own game of intrigue outside the palace.<br /><br />In HoB there is a lot going on, sometimes all at the same time so the narratives do overlap giving us the opportunity to see things from two sides. The story doesn't stop, get boring and momentum picks up and up and doesn't stop until the final page.<br /><br />HoB is definitely more earthy as if you can live and breathe with the people from Venda, and out of all I've read so far, I actually enjoyed this book more than the first. Whilst the spiritual side of Lia's growth didn't interest me it was the combining of the old stories and new, a short telling of history repeating itself, which I enjoyed the most.<br /><br />As for the romance, Lia has chosen her side and no one is in any doubt. She loves Rafe, and he really loves her. But what of Kaden?<br /><br />The dramatic ending will have you reaching for the next book, and hoping all our favourite characters actually live. Once things for sure, nothing is for sure. <br /><br />-CBx</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤ </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>About the Author</b></span></div><br /><i>Mary E. Pearson is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of ten novels.&nbsp; Her works include her latest trilogy, <i>The Kiss of Deception, The Heart of Betrayal</i>, and the forthcoming <i>The Beauty of Darkness</i> which will be published in August. <i>The Adoration of Jenna Fox</i>, and the other books in the series have been optioned for film, and <i>A Room on Lorelei Street</i> was a Golden Kite Award Winner. She writes full-time from her home office in California where she lives with her husband.</i> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b>You can find Mary E. Pearson here:</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.marypearson.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WL-E10LNbZA/WLaqwbLR-TI/AAAAAAAACRg/qN7mGEDQn-gSaFhs7Ss_mWWJlS08D86BwCPcB/s1600/rss.png" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/123463.Mary_E_Pearson" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BtDBfny2iO8/WLAp5ur6CwI/AAAAAAAACLg/23DNFE_mEBQ4of4CcZkpBT2gMr96Zbi3wCPcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a><a href="https://twitter.com/marypearson" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zmNRlW2poRA/WLAp6MW8gsI/AAAAAAAACLg/wVhW5DIW4dkoD3pqZS0bv_6SKEBO-c7lwCPcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dapzdmVd98s/WTz81fMfNuI/AAAAAAAACyw/vieA9xHxBoYGTGkXIoP7qJm098zJygKHgCLcB/s1600/MaryPearson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="172" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dapzdmVd98s/WTz81fMfNuI/AAAAAAAACyw/vieA9xHxBoYGTGkXIoP7qJm098zJygKHgCLcB/s1600/MaryPearson.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤ </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Follow and Like</i> to Read More <i>Bookworm Blogger #YA</i> Reviews:</b></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-41eldXiqbRc/WLAsflS3nGI/AAAAAAAACL0/fYRh5lclvX4zPin4F6OQ6bbazrhWi3QvQCLcB/s1600/facebook.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" target="_blank"><img alt="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xOOCPtPyonQ/WLAsgDXJXVI/AAAAAAAACME/uR-ZY0ObpxoKnKFpYPfdUYSb3Q6HtgT6wCLcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k2nSQa2WGt4/WLAsfQtt2EI/AAAAAAAACLs/i7HybLqSSNg13BTOzepYFq2xMEJkby6hgCLcB/s1600/bloglovin.png" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57CMZYE-hIA/WLAsfZw4feI/AAAAAAAACLw/rxAzqwb37scW6sSadP6csFB9oIlWTZ9eQCLcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://charlottesbooks.tumblr.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iNPAc3E-gnE/WLaPgTeMsVI/AAAAAAAACQU/9pr5431hD74GV7U4s7FPXV77JWuQdhwRwCLcB/s1600/tumblr.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R5u7AjHsikg/WLAsgAqux6I/AAAAAAAACMA/V5K0xd5r1RYBLfCgD9Ab22qpPNgJFGHpACLcB/s1600/pinterest.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" target="_blank"><img alt="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Glw_DcJpyB0/WLAsf7ldGMI/AAAAAAAACL4/477mfmtG2WMl28-EyasJIbLbSURJRbRPQCLcB/s1600/google%252B.png" /></a></td><td><a href="mailto:bwormblogger@gmail.com" target="_blank"><img alt="bwormblogger@gmail.com" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d7yo6MW1sFM/WLAsf5FdGhI/AAAAAAAACL8/A3liVzPwlAUYYluvNkBAc5wJOOiJbFU8ACLcB/s1600/mail.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div>Charlotte Blackhttps://plus.google.com/101062532400721123197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430519442066245345.post-54254514356709652302017-06-11T10:22:00.000+01:002017-06-11T11:43:03.153+01:00Review: The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles #1) by Mary E. Pearson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1250063159/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=neverleavethe-21&amp;camp=1634&amp;creative=6738&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=1250063159&amp;linkId=b08cb5cb4687d9ec15bc7b0fe31f0bea" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1250063159/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=neverleavethe-21&amp;camp=1634&amp;creative=6738&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=1250063159&amp;linkId=b08cb5cb4687d9ec15bc7b0fe31f0bea" border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C4TNimaLHTk/WTz3_UOn7JI/AAAAAAAACyg/BAPF6VAZZqcMuZfPO5PQnLGfto5MCh9ZgCLcB/s400/KissDec.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1250063159/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=neverleavethe-21&amp;camp=1634&amp;creative=6738&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=1250063159&amp;linkId=b08cb5cb4687d9ec15bc7b0fe31f0bea" target="_blank">The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles #1) by Mary E. Pearson </a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Published:</b> July 8th 2014 by Henry Holt</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<b>Rating</b>: 4 out of 5</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Available from:</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>&nbsp;</b></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1250063159/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=neverleavethe-21&amp;camp=1634&amp;creative=6738&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=1250063159&amp;linkId=52e2d5ff269c98ee8af5f486f94b6a77" target="_blank"><img alt="Amazon" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cBN9n_YXFUQ/WPMuIbp36DI/AAAAAAAACmU/t267fGBL5xU1wPTZDw1_enJy13oBJMi4wCPcB/s1600/amazon.png" /></a><a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/4r70gv30v2IRMLPRLSIKJLRKOOK?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebooks.com%2Fcj.asp%3FIID%3D1603150&amp;cjsku=1603150" target="_blank"><img alt="eBooks.com=" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kFrWDUEgV3o/WPSRanNW-RI/AAAAAAAACmo/Hez2X7U_N0Ysjt-MxdVlnt_DX7cqeOdbACPcB/s1600/Ebooks.png" /></a><a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/The-Kiss-of-Deception/9781250063151?a_aid=BookwormBloggerYA" target="_blank"><img alt="Book Depository" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bSDz8VOCue8/WPSRahx90EI/AAAAAAAACmg/7l4DNQbahdMo2XaZS9gK65jCe6228sS4ACLcB/s1600/BookDepository.png" /></a><a href="http://www.tkqlhce.com/li122y1A719PYTSWYSZPRSTSZSRW?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%2Fw%2Fthe-kiss-of-deception-mary-e-pearson%2F1116931467%3Fean%3D9781627792189&amp;cjsku=9781627792189" target="_blank"><img alt="Barnes and Noble" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DLjYTrZGvN4/WQn88hamloI/AAAAAAAACqk/lbaiWu_2HGIfG3ejVEB5gfTIsF7BTw4xgCLcB/s1600/barnes-and-noble.png" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Synopsis:</b></span></div><br /><b>A princess must find her place in a reborn world.</b>She flees on her wedding day. She steals ancient documents from the Chancellor's secret collection. She is pursued by bounty hunters sent by her own father. <br /><br />She is Princess Lia, seventeen, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan.<br /><br />The Kingdom of Morrighan is steeped in tradition and the stories of a bygone world, but some traditions Lia can't abide. Like having to marry someone she's never met to secure a political alliance.<br /><br />Fed up and ready for a new life, Lia flees to a distant village on the morning of her wedding. She settles in among the common folk, intrigued when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deceptions swirl and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—secrets that may unravel her world—even as she feels herself falling in love.. <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />✤✤✤✤</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a name='more'></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Review:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />I read this as an ARC and didn't get to review it because I was in two minds and wanted to think about how I felt about the story. I never did get that review finished. So, after the final book came out I got down to reading this again.<br /><br />The story begins as Lia, First Daughter and Princess of Morrighan, is getting a wedding kavah. It's basically a tattoo that covers her back and over her shoulders, to celebrate her forthcoming marriage to the crown prince of Dalbreck, a neighbouring country. Lia was there when the very old king of Dalbreck arranged and signed the marriage treaty. If the king was that old, the prince must be middle aged. Lia has been brought up to have her own thoughts and mind but as she gets older her parents start stifling her. They tell her to shut up, behave and know her place. She also has run-ins with the kings advisers who all think she's troublesome. <br /><br />Needless to say, when it comes to her wedding day she asks for a few minutes alone and uses the time to flee with her best friend and palace helper, Pauline. Pauline's family come from a small town of Terravin and the two decide its the perfect place to hide and lay low.<br /><br />The journey takes a few days but the girls are cunning. They trade their horses for mules, change their clothes for rags, hock some jewels so they have money to spend for the start of their new life, and they hide their tracks thoroughly by diverting their escape in all different directions. You realise at this point that they're smart, calculating, and certain not dimwitted by palace etiquette by any means.<br /><br />They reach Terravin and meet Pauline's so called aunt Berdi, who isn't an actual aunt, but the closest Pauline has for family. Berdi is the sole of discretion so they tell her immediately who Lia is and what's happened. Now they have an ally. Berdi puts them to work in her tavern and Lia and Pauline complete the hard chores with no complaints, and work nights in the bar with Gwyneth, a young woman with secrets of her own.<br /><br />One day two spritely lads come through the door, take some cider and food, and sit quietly in the corner. What you know from the narrative is one is an assassin sent to kill the princess, and the other is the prince she was going to marry, and wants to get her back.<br /><br />Here we begin the love triangle although its an intriguing page turning start of two very different friendships. Both the lads stay and help out with tasks at the taverns. Neither looks like they're moving on any time soon and both make their excuses as to why they stick around. <br /><br />Religion plays a big part in this story. Pauline is quite devout from the first but Lia doesn't partake in giving prayers to the gods or asking for blessings. But when a holy festival comes around its the start of the deception that lingers and grows. Lia begins to see underneath the tales the boys have told. She also starts to get a feeling, a deep inner voice that tells her things and starts to guide her. This is the gift she's been born with but its one that's been shuttered away during her time at the palace. Now she's free it has a chance of reaching out, and it tells her a story of old. Bit by bit Lia starts to learn about the history of their world, it's beginnings, how it thrived and how it succumbed to the biggest downfall by the 'dragon of many faces.' Little by little we learn of Morrighan, the girl who was sold for a sack of grain. Her story mirrors Lia's, but she doesn't see the resemblance until it's too late.<br /><br />Lia is kidnapped and forced to travel to Venda. The assassin, Kaden, thinks she'll be more use alive because she has the gift. His Komizar, the leader of Venda, may use her for his own means. Kaden also doesn't want to kill her, despite his orders, because he loves her.<br /><br />Likewise, the prince who was supposed to steal her away, Rafe, thought he'd find a stuck up girl too prissy for anything other than palace life. Instead her finds a spirited girl, strong in her convictions, and determined that she'll only marry for love. A girl who also speaks badly of the crown prince for not having the guts to meet her before their wedding. Lia doesn't know who he is yet.<br /><br />The race is on, either for Rafe to rescue the princess, and for Kaden to reach Venda before the princess dies at the hands of other colleagues, or is snatched back by the prince.<br /><br />I have to say, reading this book a second time was more enticing for me because although I remembered the love triangle (which I usually hate) I actually did enjoy the anticipation, the daringness and the deceptions. The story comes from four points of view being Lia, Rafe, Kaden and Pauline so the web of the story gets equal measure around and around as it grows.<br /><br />The romance I thought would be awkward is actually very good, heartfelt and riveting. Lia likes both boys for very different reasons. And the best thing, she doesn't commit, she doesn't tease, she is what she is and speaks her mind. You really do feel her pain when she finds out the truth about both of them.<br /><br />The world building is exceptional, and very grand. The history, and the evanescent story of the ancients and well as Morrighan is knitted nicely into a well crafted and tidy tale. Not too much emphasis on any key factor but majoring more on Lia and her progress throughout. She is a great main character that strives for what she wants and doesn't back down. She's strong and capable, has ambitions of her own, and won't be party to doing only her duty, she thinks of others always.<br /><br />The end of the book finishes nicely at the gates of Venda, when all hands are revealed. The outcome of that, the hurt, sorrow and anger will all follow in the next installment.<br /><br />A great start to YA fantasy series, written incredibly well with enough to keep you wanting more.<br />-CBx</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤ </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>About the Author</b></span></div><br /><i>Mary E. Pearson is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of ten novels.&nbsp; Her works include her latest trilogy, <i>The Kiss of Deception, The Heart of Betrayal</i>, and the forthcoming <i>The Beauty of Darkness</i> which will be published in August. <i>The Adoration of Jenna Fox</i>, and the other books in the series have been optioned for film, and <i>A Room on Lorelei Street</i> was a Golden Kite Award Winner. She writes full-time from her home office in California where she lives with her husband.</i> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b>You can find Mary E. Pearson here:</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.marypearson.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WL-E10LNbZA/WLaqwbLR-TI/AAAAAAAACRg/qN7mGEDQn-gSaFhs7Ss_mWWJlS08D86BwCPcB/s1600/rss.png" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/123463.Mary_E_Pearson" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BtDBfny2iO8/WLAp5ur6CwI/AAAAAAAACLg/23DNFE_mEBQ4of4CcZkpBT2gMr96Zbi3wCPcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a><a href="https://twitter.com/marypearson" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zmNRlW2poRA/WLAp6MW8gsI/AAAAAAAACLg/wVhW5DIW4dkoD3pqZS0bv_6SKEBO-c7lwCPcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dapzdmVd98s/WTz81fMfNuI/AAAAAAAACyw/vieA9xHxBoYGTGkXIoP7qJm098zJygKHgCLcB/s1600/MaryPearson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="172" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dapzdmVd98s/WTz81fMfNuI/AAAAAAAACyw/vieA9xHxBoYGTGkXIoP7qJm098zJygKHgCLcB/s1600/MaryPearson.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤ </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Follow and Like</i> to Read More <i>Bookworm Blogger #YA</i> Reviews:</b></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-41eldXiqbRc/WLAsflS3nGI/AAAAAAAACL0/fYRh5lclvX4zPin4F6OQ6bbazrhWi3QvQCLcB/s1600/facebook.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" target="_blank"><img alt="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xOOCPtPyonQ/WLAsgDXJXVI/AAAAAAAACME/uR-ZY0ObpxoKnKFpYPfdUYSb3Q6HtgT6wCLcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k2nSQa2WGt4/WLAsfQtt2EI/AAAAAAAACLs/i7HybLqSSNg13BTOzepYFq2xMEJkby6hgCLcB/s1600/bloglovin.png" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57CMZYE-hIA/WLAsfZw4feI/AAAAAAAACLw/rxAzqwb37scW6sSadP6csFB9oIlWTZ9eQCLcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://charlottesbooks.tumblr.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iNPAc3E-gnE/WLaPgTeMsVI/AAAAAAAACQU/9pr5431hD74GV7U4s7FPXV77JWuQdhwRwCLcB/s1600/tumblr.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R5u7AjHsikg/WLAsgAqux6I/AAAAAAAACMA/V5K0xd5r1RYBLfCgD9Ab22qpPNgJFGHpACLcB/s1600/pinterest.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" target="_blank"><img alt="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Glw_DcJpyB0/WLAsf7ldGMI/AAAAAAAACL4/477mfmtG2WMl28-EyasJIbLbSURJRbRPQCLcB/s1600/google%252B.png" /></a></td><td><a href="mailto:bwormblogger@gmail.com" target="_blank"><img alt="bwormblogger@gmail.com" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d7yo6MW1sFM/WLAsf5FdGhI/AAAAAAAACL8/A3liVzPwlAUYYluvNkBAc5wJOOiJbFU8ACLcB/s1600/mail.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div>Charlotte Blackhttps://plus.google.com/101062532400721123197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430519442066245345.post-6758136115548433602017-05-27T10:26:00.002+01:002017-06-11T16:44:04.228+01:00*Book Blitz* & Author Q&A - Strange Lands by Anderson Atlas<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LqWGVt_tMxI/WSk77I3_XaI/AAAAAAAACxE/oLZWa7tnZ8ErVTnFFHoJcGP9u_I6XgRXQCLcB/s1600/Strangelands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="373" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LqWGVt_tMxI/WSk77I3_XaI/AAAAAAAACxE/oLZWa7tnZ8ErVTnFFHoJcGP9u_I6XgRXQCLcB/s400/Strangelands.jpg" width="247" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Strange Lands</b><br /><span class="a-size-extra-large" id="ebooksProductTitle">(Heroes of Distant Planets Book 1)</span></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>by Anderson Atlas</b></h3><div><b>Publisher:</b> Synesthesia Books</div><div><b>Date of Publishing:</b> August 1st 2016</div><div><b>Genre: </b>YA Fantasy</div><div><b>Suggested Ages:</b> 10+</div><i><br /><span id="freeText10757317549052886796">Ripped from his wheelchair by a massive flash flood, Allan drags himself through dense forest only to find himself surrounded by strange and ruthless creatures who are not from Earth. Allan can’t run away and has no means to defend himself. Instinct overcomes his terror and his cleverness blossoms, which is all he needs to survive the dark jungles, poisonous plants, Shadic hunters and the vile slave trader Killian Crow.<br /><br />Follow Allan's path of self-discovery, and watch him take back what he's lost. Surviving the Improbable Quest is a spine tingling adventure, with exciting twists &amp; turns. A perfect and inspiring read for 10 and up.</span></i><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vitWQRR9dJo/WSk_ovajHWI/AAAAAAAACxo/zQkhHYJpjps28wWyuPIW3jW3cfJJ089jACEw/s1600/allan-in-alien-forest1-1024x536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="1024" height="335" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vitWQRR9dJo/WSk_ovajHWI/AAAAAAAACxo/zQkhHYJpjps28wWyuPIW3jW3cfJJ089jACEw/s640/allan-in-alien-forest1-1024x536.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><h2 class="entry-title"><br />Strange Lands Chapter 1 Preview</h2></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><h3 class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w52BBmhI8qo/WSk81qTy3VI/AAAAAAAACxQ/AiGCqhYYzEwxw_zS-YqEpJ2MQhX5AHIFgCLcB/s1600/coverart1-3D-1-326x400.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="326" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w52BBmhI8qo/WSk81qTy3VI/AAAAAAAACxQ/AiGCqhYYzEwxw_zS-YqEpJ2MQhX5AHIFgCLcB/s320/coverart1-3D-1-326x400.png" width="260" /></a></h3><br /><h3>Chapter 1: Born to Race</h3>Allan Westerfield strolls down a long corridor toward the huge indoor pool, hearing roars from the crowd and echoes from the swim meet’s announcer. His nerves are tight, twitching. He’s used to being in front of crowds wearing only a speedo, that’s not his problem. This is the largest crowd he’s ever swam in front of, and the most important race of his burgeoning swim career.<br /><br />A man emerges from the shadow of a side doorway, startling Allan. It’s his large bear-like principal, Mr. Greggory, wearing a dark blue shirt and a silver tie, the school colors. The man is an imposing figure; six foot something, black hair, graying at the temples and a stare that can freeze souls.<br /><br />“Before you swim, Mr. Westerfield,” Mr. Greggory begins, his voice deep like an Adams Family member. “I feel obligated to remind you of why you were let into our prestigious school in the first place. You’re here to win. If you do not live up to your repute, you will eventually be expelled due to your poor grades and lackluster attitude.”<br /><br />“Uh–” Allan’s tongue is tied, his entire body stiff as a board.<br /><br />“I was informed yesterday that you failed your last math exam. You cannot swim with your grades.” Mr. Greggory lets his scowl fall from his face and replaces it with a large, fake smile.<br /><br />Another swimmer in a bright red one-piece, passes, her towel over her shoulder, earbuds in her ears.<br /><br />Mr. Greggory sighs and straightens his tie. “I’m a forgiving man, as you know. So, I’ve decided not to tell the judges. All you must do is beat Southern Catholic High. We’ll have to do something about that test score for your record to stand, but I’m willing to help so that our school reputation is not tarnished.”<br /><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br /><br />Allan swallows hard, his voice lost in his chest. He had no idea he’d failed his math test and that it dropped his GPA to an unacceptable level. He hated school, expressly Greenville Academy, especially the teachers, particularly the principal.<br /><br />Mr. Greggory rests his large hand on Allan’s shoulder, pressing down firmly. “If you do not win, I’ll see that any future you think you have in this sport is thoroughly demolished. Do I make myself clear?”<br /><br />Allan nods and is pushed down the corridor toward the pool.<br /><br />The indoor pool is huge, with bleachers on either side of the swim lanes; the air sharp with the smell of chlorine. Allan’s mother is sitting near the main entrance next to his friend Max. The rest of the stands are full of classmates and strangers. Allan mills near his team, waiting until his name is called. Other swimmers speak to him, but his brain can’t focus on what they say. All he can do is concentrate on winning his race. If he fails, his life will go down in a ball of flame.<br /><br />Allan’s name is called and he steps to the edge of the pool. His feet feel numb on the cold, wet tiles, and he can’t wait to jump in the water. The announcer reads his stats and finally, Allan is allowed onto the dive block. He waits as the other swimmers are introduced, breathing deep and ignoring the doubt that is always with him. He never expected to win this meet. His time wasn’t even close to the dead-eyed Chris Tanker, the Southern Catholic’s swim god, who was two lanes away, waving to the crowd, pumping his fist in the air.<br /><br />The swimmers ready and the crowd goes silent.<br /><br />The gun goes off. Allan jumps, his start flawlessly timed. He powers through water like a harpoon, forgetting the ten other kids he swam next to. It’s only him now, like he likes it. The water is another world to Allan, a strange atmosphere, but freeing, the only place he feels at home and in control. When he swims, he imagines himself in a deep ocean, full of other creatures or sunken cities. He usually pretends he’s being chased by great white sharks or by enormous squid.<br /><br />Not today. Today, Allan is focused on nothing but movement. His head breaks into the air and he sucks in a breath. He kicks as hard as he can, and reaches as far as his arms will go. Move it! Faster! he yells to himself.<br /><br />The intense roar of the crowd deadens every time Allan’s head falls below the waterline. But when his ears rise above the splashes he can hear them again. Someone yells his name, and then the sound vanishes, replaced by the silent peacefulness of being underwater. Allan feels his heart beat in his chest like a caged monster. Energy pumps through his body at dizzying speeds. His arms pull the water, and his legs power a tornado behind him.<br /><br />Allan’s eyes follow the dark blue tiles at the bottom of the pool until they end in a ‘T.’ At the perfect moment, he tucks his head under him and twists. Memory, deep in his muscles, guides his every move.<br /><br />The boy in the next lane falls farther and farther behind. Allan’s lead fuels the clamor of the crowd. The echo is almost deafening. He knew he was fast, but this is a state competition and on paper his opponents are all faster than him. He gasps air and powers himself through the water.<br /><br />Push it now! Allan strains every muscle, burns through every breath and lets himself become utterly silent inside.<br /><br />Allan reaches up and touches the end of his lane, letting his body collide with the pool wall. His ears drain of water and the roar of the crowd powers out the announcer’s voice. Allan looks around. His mother jumps up and down, so is Max. Everyone’s looking at him. Confused, Allan looks at the other swimmers. Most smile or nod to him, Chris scowls.<br /><br />Allan had won! His time was relayed by the announcer over and over. He’d beat some kind of national record, and by the look of it, by half a second! Allan holds up his hand, and the crowd claps a thunderous response.<br /><br />So goes Allan Westerfield’s thirteen to fourteen, one-hundred-meter, local swimming committee, freestyle race. He won’t get kicked out of school and to top it off, he’s now qualified for the Nationals.<br /><br />Allan lets the water fall off his swim cap and cascade down his face as he listens to beating of his heart. He’s light headed, but so happy. Swimming is his purpose, his reason for living. Allan looks across the sea of happy faces in the bleachers and listens to the clapping.<br /><br />Allan grabs a towel from his coach, who’s as happy as an over-fed dolphin, turns and sits. He’s got one more race to win, but any worry or doubt vanishes. He can do it, there’s too much on the line.<br /><br />His mother mouths something to him, her cheeks red from smiling and squealing.<br /><br />From the entrance walks slightly crooked man, shorter than average and with a long brown pony tail. His math teacher, Mr. Morgan! What is he doing here? The guy was always trying to be cool and hip, but he’s so strict no one really likes him.<br /><br />Mr. Morgan finds the principal sitting in the front row. The two chat as Mr. Morgan shakes his head. The principal waves him off, but Mr. Morgan won’t go.<br /><br />“No,” Allan whispers. He knows what’s happening. Dread fills Allan’s chest like heavy lead balls.<br /><br />A cascade effect happens, similar to falling dominoes. Morgan speaks to a referee, who speaks to the judge and recorder, who then scowl and stare. The referee finds Allan’s coach, who approaches with a sour face.<br /><br />“Pack it up,” coach says. “You can’t finish the meet. Get your grades in line and do it again next year. Got it?”<br /><br />Allan stands, stifling his tears. He notices the principal speaking to his mother and as her smile collapses into dust, Allan’s knees weaken to the point of overcooked spaghetti.<br /><br />The crowd is still cheering for Allan, some try to catch his eye and wave. They’ll hear the news, soon. Allan feels the heat of embarrassment hit him head-on and rushes to the dressing room. The quiet, tile covered room allows his anger to surface. He changes into his blue and gray school uniform and slams his locker closed. Why do I have to know math anyway? None of it matters to me!<br /><br />After gathering his things, he leaves, meeting his mother in the hall outside the locker room. His mother’s face is different, altered somehow.<br /><br />She holds up the test Allan failed. Her grip has slightly crumpled the paper. Even still, Allan can clearly see the big red F on the top.<br /><br />“Boy, you’ve messed up.”<br /><br />“But.”<br /><br />“Not another word. I’m ready to blow like a volcano. Let’s go.”<br /><br />“You can’t swim with grades like these,” Mrs. Westerfield hisses, keeping her voice as low as possible. She grabs his shirt collar and tugs him toward the oversized mahogany door that leads to the main hallway.<br /><br />Allan doesn’t say a word. He knew this day would come. It’s calling out the beast in his mother, and no athletic award could ease her anger. He wants to shrink into a tiny marble and roll away or clink down a gutter and into a storm drain where he will be safe.<br /><br />Mrs. Westerfield practically drags him down the wide hallway. Its walls have accumulated a myriad of awards, photos, and student artwork. He’d won the one-hundred-meter freestyle, so he should get his picture on the wall, but he won’t. His math teacher has stripped him of his victory.<br /><br />“You weren’t supposed to race today. You have to have a 3.2 GPA to play sports. You don’t have a 3.2 GPA. Do you know what that means?”<br /><br />Allan shakes his head.<br /><br />“You’re in the best private school in the state. Your father and I aren’t paying for you to swim. We’re paying for you to learn.” For a few moments, the only sound is the clicking of Mrs. Westerfield’s heels on the tile floor. “Besides, without that GPA you will be disqualified. All your efforts might go down the drain.”<br /><br />Allan looks at the polished wood-paneled walls of Greenville Academy. He’s just won a state competition, but will be stripped of his trophy. It will go to that smarmy Chris guy. How can they do this? I still beat him. It has nothing to do with not turning in some work and failing one little math test. <br /><br />Coming to Greenville Academy was supposed to make things better. At first its prestigious austere haunted Allan every time he walked through the towering front doors. Everyone is too smart, too driven, too…something he isn’t. Until taking the lead on the swim team, Allan had never felt like he belonged at the academy. They do not want average kids, kids that can’t figure out algebra or memorize the periodic table or grasp Latin. He hates Latin. Now he’ll be kicked out and have to go back to the public school, who didn’t even have a swim team.<br /><br />Today, the kids that usually ignored him cheered his name. Their parents will talk about him. He is now the fastest swimmer Greenville has ever seen.<br /><br />“You’ve never done this before,” Mrs. Westerfield hisses. She is normally a lean woman, but her outrage amplifies her muscles and veins. Her hair and eye make-up appear darker in her rage though it is mid-day and sunny. She’s normally very pretty, a good mom. But on occasions like this, she morphs into a surly, fire-breathing troll queen whose cruelty reigns over Allan and his father. Her nails dig into his arm as she pulls him down the steps toward the car that idles at the curb. They feel like claws. “You’ve never lied to me like this. You are grounded from Max and your video games for a month, or more. Your father and I haven’t quite decided, yet. Unless you bring up these grades and fast, you will not swim on any team again. Do you hear me?”<br /><br />Allan nods. He’s shorter than average with light brown hair like his dad, thin with blue eyes like his mom. He’s thirteen and a half and keenly aware that his mother is dragging him around like a child. School has been over for a couple of hours, but everyone still in the library can see his humiliation. “Your teacher said you’re failing assignments and doodling on everything. She’s caught you drawing a six-headed sea creature in a textbook. That’s vandalism. You are way better than this.” Allan sees troll hair sprouting from under his mother’s shirtsleeves. “It’s not just math. Mr. Morgan just got out of a meeting with your science and your language arts teachers. I just learned that you’ve flushed a third of your grade by not doing a science project. Why wouldn’t you do one? You didn’t even tell me you had one this quarter.” When Allan doesn’t answer, she bends to his eye level. “Answer me or so help me God.”<br /><br />“I, uh—” Tears roll down his face. “I didn’t know what to do. Everyone had good ideas but me. I couldn’t think of anything.”<br /><br />“Your brain works, I know it does.” Mrs. Westerfield opens the car door for Allan, the hunchback growing on her shoulders. The troll queen will eat me alive, Allan thinks. She taps her foot as Allan hops in, and then she slams the door shut. To Allan’s horror, his dad is driving.<br /><br />“What in the hell are you doing? I know you’re only in the eighth grade, but if you mess this up, you won’t get into an Ivy League school. You can kiss Princeton goodbye.” Allan’s father clicks the car into gear and pulls into traffic, squealing the tires.<br /><br />His mother holds up the test. “Allan failed his math mid-term. Not a low C or a D. A big fat F. He also missed his science project, but never misses swim practice or his TV shows.” Fangs have grown from her distended lower jaw. She snorts. Or did she? Allan rubs his eyes, and his mother looks normal again, though she continues her rant, “You’re father could have helped you with math. And you could have asked me for some ideas about your science project. I’m an Ornithologist. What about a project on rare birds? Remember the Yellow Bellied Canaries I studied last year? They turned red in a single generation. They would have made a wonderful science project.” She grunts in frustration, something she does when words cannot convey her emotions. The grunt is a good sign, however. It means she’s running out of steam.<br /><br />Allan hopes he can still avoid being her main course. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think . . .” Allan tries to find a piece of fingernail to chew, but they have been chomped away already. He wants to tell his father that Princeton means nothing to him, but Allan bites his tongue. He knows better than to dismiss his father’s holy Princeton.<br /><br />“That’s right. You didn’t think!” Mr. Westerfield snaps. He changes lanes and yells out the window at a car that zips by. “Watch it! Idiot drivers are everywhere.”<br /><br />“Language, Warren.”<br /><br />“This is your fault, you know. You’re the one that read all those crazy kid books by Adam Boldary to him when he was younger. You know, the ones with those crazy creatures and worlds and Morty’s adventures at sea. It messed up his brain. All he thinks about is adventuring and swimming and diving.”<br /><br />“Okay, that makes absolutely no sense,” Mrs. Westerfield retorts.<br /><br />Allan sniffles and wipes his eyes with the back of his hand. He hates himself when he makes his parents mad. He feels stupid, worthless. The science project scared him to death. School scares him. The only thing he really wants to do is swim and go on adventures. He thinks about racing other kids and going to the Olympics. He wants to explore the castles of Europe and hunt for elusive sea creatures and hold the record for the deepest free dive. The Discovery channel has tons of people that make good money doing that stuff.<br /><br />Mrs. Westerfield turns to Allan. She takes a deep breath. Her usually tame hair is ruffled and messy. “Look, as you get older school gets harder. You’ve got to come to us for help. That’s what we’re here for.<br /><br />“The world has too many Adam Boldary wannabes and head-screwed-on-backward athletes. We need scientists and mathematicians. That’s where the money is. That’s where you’ll have a future.”<br /><br />Allan is about to say he won’t mess up again, but his mother cuts him off.<br /><br />“I’m still mad,” she says, then turns away looking more tired than ferocious.<br /><br />“You’ve got such a powerful drive. Look how you push yourself in the water. Why not push your mind like that? Science is only half academic. The other half is passion, which you have in spades. Just forget about the fantasies for a while. You can always race and dive and explore places; you only have one chance to get middle school right.”<br /><br />Mr. Westerfield wears new leather gloves that have little holes cut around the knuckles. They creak like a rusty hinge when he squeezes the wheel. Traffic is thick, not unusual for this time of day. Allan looks out the window. The sun slips behind a dark cloud. I could do a science project about birds? How boring, Allan thinks. Now if that bird has short razor-sharp teeth, that would be cool.<br /><br />Movement catches his eye as the car slows to a stop. A beetle with a black shell and an oblong body lands on the edge of the window. Beyond it, a swarm of beetles leap from car to car. Do beetles have parents that yell at them? Do they have homework that makes life difficult and cruel? If given the choice, would that beetle trade its meager life for mine? Allan taps the glass twice where the beetle is. To his surprise, it taps its front leg twice. Allan taps the glass three times. The beetle copies him. His eyes widen, and his breath catches in his chest.<br /><br />The car starts to move again, sweeping past the swarm of beetles. The one beetle holds on for as long as it can until the wind whips it away. Allan slips out of the top part of the seatbelt and cranes his neck to look out the back windshield so he can see the beetle join the swarm. There are so many. He’s never seen a cloud of bugs so thick. It rises over the cars and into the sky like dark smoke.<br /><br />Suddenly, the car is hit head on by a much larger vehicle. Airbags explode from the door panels and hammer Allan from the side. His lap belt catches his waist, but his unprotected torso snaps forward. Glass fills the air like confetti and sounds like a million wind chimes. Silence envelops him, and he sees only a bright light. Another car slams into the opposite side and flips the car over. Time slows as the vehicle absorbs the energy of the collision. The roof caves in as easily as crumpling paper. Then Allan blinks out, enveloped in silence.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>See 'Strange Lands' by Artwork</b></span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4xGJc86WGjI/WSk_rRRpedI/AAAAAAAACyA/Nmn8h6Dqn6sxkFchbSo7z0ORP7STIWm7ACEw/s1600/jibbawk-cover-notype-744x1024.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="744" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4xGJc86WGjI/WSk_rRRpedI/AAAAAAAACyA/Nmn8h6Dqn6sxkFchbSo7z0ORP7STIWm7ACEw/s320/jibbawk-cover-notype-744x1024.jpeg" width="232" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XekZThdkud0/WSk_qT3qpCI/AAAAAAAACyE/IYeFijlqhoMJGyBNeCToZeBwecihqdRhQCEw/s1600/dantia2-500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="500" height="231" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XekZThdkud0/WSk_qT3qpCI/AAAAAAAACyE/IYeFijlqhoMJGyBNeCToZeBwecihqdRhQCEw/s320/dantia2-500.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>&nbsp;</b></span><br /><h3><span style="font-size: large;"><b>&nbsp;</b></span></h3><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uQXQbsEr9yw/WSk_o4l0jTI/AAAAAAAACyE/ny2mQaPX8sElgr1Sk3phGn31oR0v8sveACEw/s1600/allan-hanging-on-asantia.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="288" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uQXQbsEr9yw/WSk_o4l0jTI/AAAAAAAACyE/ny2mQaPX8sElgr1Sk3phGn31oR0v8sveACEw/s320/allan-hanging-on-asantia.png" width="230" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pLU9xfGXzjk/WSk_rN4RHpI/AAAAAAAACyE/nmgY0nFzfOAPvEQINeykx32CIppwcCuGwCEw/s1600/dream-spirit-scan-2-500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="500" height="231" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pLU9xfGXzjk/WSk_rN4RHpI/AAAAAAAACyE/nmgY0nFzfOAPvEQINeykx32CIppwcCuGwCEw/s320/dream-spirit-scan-2-500.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-64ZB7DWV0SA/WSk_pvLAMoI/AAAAAAAACyE/7gbmQ5fQ0eELIh10cXpRumdmW8iR-cSWwCEw/s1600/dantia-wall-guards500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="368" data-original-width="500" height="235" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-64ZB7DWV0SA/WSk_pvLAMoI/AAAAAAAACyE/7gbmQ5fQ0eELIh10cXpRumdmW8iR-cSWwCEw/s320/dantia-wall-guards500.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4qx0vfk6SkA/WSk_o88Dm_I/AAAAAAAACyE/eGSqvSs0e4c1l90W2O8uwuR2I0B-v0BvwCEw/s1600/beetle-art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="321" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4qx0vfk6SkA/WSk_o88Dm_I/AAAAAAAACyE/eGSqvSs0e4c1l90W2O8uwuR2I0B-v0BvwCEw/s320/beetle-art.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><h3><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp; R<b>ead and Buy Here:</b></span></h3></div><div class="column"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33304581-strange-lands" target="_blank"><img alt="Goodreads" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GxCjjUEATuM/WLAYL9FsTMI/AAAAAAAACKk/PXU1yXP6aQUH3faZzOca4XLXZSXNogc5gCPcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a><a href="http://amzn.to/2qpu8H9" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0050P3YXA/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B0050P3YXA&amp;linkId=d1aeae602612d078852f8f93bbe8fd08" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V7vDRCSo-Oo/WLAYLVV5jiI/AAAAAAAACKk/RMtNCa6Ark4Y3NQ0LItazDZkvN7Dy6nYgCPcB/s1600/amazon.png" /></a><a href="http://www.tkqlhce.com/l3104xdmjdl0943793A0229226A8?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%2Fw%2Fstrange-lands-anderson-atlas%2F1124593604%3Fean%3D9780997478877&amp;cjsku=9780997478877" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.kqzyfj.com/qd122uoxuowBKFEIKELBDDKDDHLJ?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%2Fw%2Ftoonopolis-jeremy-rodden%2F1101314250%3Fean%3D9780983425397&amp;cjsku=9780983425397" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JxWtVnGXxU4/WLAYLjwYsrI/AAAAAAAACKk/LzDQL6wSUSA-s47jHr0LZKyL0ifZ1WUJQCPcB/s1600/barnes-and-noble.png" /></a></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Meet the Author<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>Q&amp;A - Anderson Atlas</u></b></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: center;"></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z031fHXHXts/WSk9vHtBWhI/AAAAAAAACxc/K3C3zvN2Bn8GLUcouYZQooT_6LaJvi1kgCLcB/s1600/Brad%2BAnderson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="790" data-original-width="712" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z031fHXHXts/WSk9vHtBWhI/AAAAAAAACxc/K3C3zvN2Bn8GLUcouYZQooT_6LaJvi1kgCLcB/s320/Brad%2BAnderson.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><br /><span class="im"></span><br /><b>What made you want to to write books?</b><br />I was an illustrator for most of my youth and made up my own stories for what I was drawing. It was a natural progression to write down the stories and it allowed me to really dig deeper with my writing. The one was the pea, the other the pod. <span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div><div class="column"><br /><b>Where does your inspiration come from?</b></div><div class="column">&nbsp;<span style="color: black;">I love how music inspires me, but &nbsp;honestly, I’m inspired by other stories. I love to read and watch movies. My mind lights up when I’m reading a great book. It stays with me, sparks go off and I must make my own story up. </span><br /><br /><b>How long have you been writing?</b><br /><span style="color: black;">About ten years. Since college. I’ve written 4 books, and illustrated handfuls more for other children’s book authors. </span><br /><b><br />What's your daily routine?</b><br /><span style="color: black;">Wake up, drink coffee, open blinds, stare at the sky, breathe, sit and write. an hour later, I move onto my day job- which is web design, coding and illustrating other’s works. </span><br /><br /><b>How long does it take you to write a book - From the first word to completion?</b><br />Y<span style="color: black;">ears. I’m finishing a book I started ten years ago. I write, let bake, cook something else, come back. I want my stories to be the best. &nbsp;I want them to endure. </span><br /><br /><br /><b>What do you do in your spare time?</b><br /><span style="color: black;">Sail, hike, read, watch stuff, relax :)</span><span class="im"><br /></span><br /><br /><b>TV shows - what's your favourite, past and present?</b><br />S<span style="color: black;">herlock (bbc version), Expanse (scifi), anything historic, too. The BBC has lots of good period pieces - like Mr Selfridge. Those are great character studies.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><b>Do you have any future projects you're working on? </b><br /><span style="color: black;">Oh yes. I’m writing an epic adventure spanning 6 thousand years. It’s about a utopic future and how it became the most perfect society. It was a hard road, but a necessary one. When the peaceful future is attacked by an outside race, they must scramble to relearn how to fight for their lives and they have to go back in time to see how it was all done, or be obliterated. </span></div><div class="column"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Follow Anderson Here:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5296641.Anderson_Atlas" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57CMZYE-hIA/WLAsfZw4feI/AAAAAAAACLw/rxAzqwb37scW6sSadP6csFB9oIlWTZ9eQCLcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a><a href="https://twitter.com/AndersonAtlas" target="_blank"><img alt="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xOOCPtPyonQ/WLAsgDXJXVI/AAAAAAAACME/uR-ZY0ObpxoKnKFpYPfdUYSb3Q6HtgT6wCLcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a><a href="http://andersonatlas.com/strangelands/" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.toonopolis.com/" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H1vQHFtyqeY/WQr-I-FpV8I/AAAAAAAACrY/zkBJCTUBL0IfvxenIqHLWdwtwlB6VM_uQCLcB/s1600/rss.png" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Follow and Like</i> to Read More News and <i>Bookworm Blogger #YA</i> Reviews:</b></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; 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margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://charlottesbooks.tumblr.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iNPAc3E-gnE/WLaPgTeMsVI/AAAAAAAACQU/9pr5431hD74GV7U4s7FPXV77JWuQdhwRwCLcB/s1600/tumblr.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R5u7AjHsikg/WLAsgAqux6I/AAAAAAAACMA/V5K0xd5r1RYBLfCgD9Ab22qpPNgJFGHpACLcB/s1600/pinterest.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" target="_blank"><img alt="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Glw_DcJpyB0/WLAsf7ldGMI/AAAAAAAACL4/477mfmtG2WMl28-EyasJIbLbSURJRbRPQCLcB/s1600/google%252B.png" /></a></td><td><a href="mailto:bwormblogger@gmail.com" target="_blank"><img alt="bwormblogger@gmail.com" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d7yo6MW1sFM/WLAsf5FdGhI/AAAAAAAACL8/A3liVzPwlAUYYluvNkBAc5wJOOiJbFU8ACLcB/s1600/mail.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Charlotte Blackhttps://plus.google.com/101062532400721123197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430519442066245345.post-6234462215847966012017-05-26T20:44:00.001+01:002017-05-26T20:44:31.241+01:00Review: King's Cage (Red Queen #3) by Victoria Aveyard <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062310690/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0062310690&amp;linkId=4d709758a1252ecec5685e18fcd86a36" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062310690/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0062310690&amp;linkId=4d709758a1252ecec5685e18fcd86a36" border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jkkwgto5CBg/WSHIm3tc6UI/AAAAAAAACuY/Avtjwm3RM4oM6SY5jiHRpg1uu5FmKS36gCLcB/s400/KingsCage.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062310690/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0062310690&amp;linkId=4d709758a1252ecec5685e18fcd86a36" target="_blank">King's Cage (Red Queen #3) by Victoria Aveyard </a></b></span></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=albwormblogge-20&amp;l=am2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0316234494" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Published:</b> February 7th 2017 by HarperTeen </div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<b>Rating</b>: 3 out of 5<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Available from: &nbsp;</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>&nbsp;</b></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062310690/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0062310690&amp;linkId=4d709758a1252ecec5685e18fcd86a36" target="_blank"><img alt="Amazon" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cBN9n_YXFUQ/WPMuIbp36DI/AAAAAAAACmU/t267fGBL5xU1wPTZDw1_enJy13oBJMi4wCPcB/s1600/amazon.png" /></a><a href="http://www.jdoqocy.com/3g103vpyvpxCLGFJLFMCEDFLEIIE?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebooks.com%2Fcj.asp%3FIID%3D2591507&amp;cjsku=2591507" target="_blank"><img 0="" alt="eBooks.com=" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kFrWDUEgV3o/WPSRanNW-RI/AAAAAAAACmo/Hez2X7U_N0Ysjt-MxdVlnt_DX7cqeOdbACPcB/s1600/Ebooks.png" /></a><a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/King-s-Cage/9781409151197?a_aid=BookwormBloggerYA" target="_blank"><img alt="Book Depository" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bSDz8VOCue8/WPSRahx90EI/AAAAAAAACmg/7l4DNQbahdMo2XaZS9gK65jCe6228sS4ACLcB/s1600/BookDepository.png" /></a><a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/qn72nmvsmu9IDCGICJ9BCDCJCBG?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%2Fw%2Fkings-cage-victoria-aveyard%2F1123964493%3Fean%3D9780062310712&amp;cjsku=9780062310712" target="_blank"><img alt="Barnes and Noble" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DLjYTrZGvN4/WQn88hamloI/AAAAAAAACqk/lbaiWu_2HGIfG3ejVEB5gfTIsF7BTw4xgCLcB/s1600/barnes-and-noble.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Synopsis:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">In this breathless third installment to Victoria Aveyard’s bestselling<i> Red Queen</i> series, allegiances are tested on every side. And when the Lightning Girl's spark is gone, who will light the way for the rebellion?<br /><br />Mare Barrow is a prisoner, powerless without her lightning, tormented by her lethal mistakes. She lives at the mercy of a boy she once loved, a boy made of lies and betrayal. Now a king, Maven Calore continues weaving his dead mother's web in an attempt to maintain control over his country—and his prisoner.<br /><br />As Mare bears the weight of Silent Stone in the palace, her once-ragtag band of newbloods and Reds continue organizing, training, and expanding. They prepare for war, no longer able to linger in the shadows. And Cal, the exiled prince with his own claim on Mare's heart, will stop at nothing to bring her back.<br /><br />When blood turns on blood, and ability on ability, there may be no one left to put out the fire—leaving Norta as Mare knows it to burn all the way down.<br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a name='more'></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Review:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I think somewhere along the line I was duped into thinking this series was a trilogy, which is why I've read the series one after the other and been able to keep ahead of the story. I'm also a little confused about the purpose of this particular book and really unsure about the ending...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">King's Cage is a book of two halves. The first half Mare's captive in Maven's castle unsure whether her friends and Cal survived after she was taken. She wears Silent Stone wristers and has Arven guards. She does try to escape once, to her credit, but the rest of the time she just sits and reads. Quite boring really, if you think about it. Luckily, her voice is joined by two others. Evangeline, the evil once-other-half of Cal, suddenly has a voice. While I disliked her because of her cruelty in the previous books I can safely say I downright hated her in this. Her only saving grace was releasing Mare right at the end. Another voice added to the mix is dull Cameron, who's only objective is to rescue her brother. Even the rescue turned out to be as easy as eating a biscuit.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">At the end the good guys, if that's what they are, realise they're winning and are ready to put Cal onto the throne. But he doesn't want it. Or maybe he does. Either way, Mare doesn't want him sitting on it, or maybe she does.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">The ending of this book was nothing more than a catastrophe. All the way through, the characters were swapping their mindset, and with Mare and Cal I had absolutely no idea what they were getting out of all this, apart from the agro. And once the ending happened, I'm as lost as anyone.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I can summise that I think Cal will be King and Mare won't be with him. Cal will marry someone else and Mare still won't be with him.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I mean, did Mare really think Cal wouldn't go for the throne? Who does she expect will rule? There is no alternative given, and no internation that the Scarlet Guard will have any purpose once the throne is taken. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">And now I have to wait until the next book to figure out what's really going on.... </span><b><br /></b></span><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp; <br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div>-CBx</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div>✤✤✤✤<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>About the Author</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><i>Victoria Aveyard graduated from USC, where she majored in screenwriting. RED QUEEN is her first novel. She splits her time between Massachusetts and Los Angeles.</i></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>You can find Victoria Aveyard here:</b><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://www.victoriaaveyard.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WL-E10LNbZA/WLaqwbLR-TI/AAAAAAAACRg/qN7mGEDQn-gSaFhs7Ss_mWWJlS08D86BwCPcB/s1600/rss.png" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7074943.Victoria_Aveyard" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BtDBfny2iO8/WLAp5ur6CwI/AAAAAAAACLg/23DNFE_mEBQ4of4CcZkpBT2gMr96Zbi3wCPcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a><a href="http://www.twitter.com/victoriaaveyard" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zmNRlW2poRA/WLAp6MW8gsI/AAAAAAAACLg/wVhW5DIW4dkoD3pqZS0bv_6SKEBO-c7lwCPcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i3lbjyibZAM/WSGaR4mEAsI/AAAAAAAACt4/sFC5pV5s0vUF0OxzyPPTqWz_0ULH-2cWACLcB/s1600/VictoriaAveyard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i3lbjyibZAM/WSGaR4mEAsI/AAAAAAAACt4/sFC5pV5s0vUF0OxzyPPTqWz_0ULH-2cWACLcB/s320/VictoriaAveyard.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br /></div>✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Follow and Like</i> to Read More <i>Bookworm Blogger #YA</i> Reviews:</b><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-41eldXiqbRc/WLAsflS3nGI/AAAAAAAACL0/fYRh5lclvX4zPin4F6OQ6bbazrhWi3QvQCLcB/s1600/facebook.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" target="_blank"><img alt="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xOOCPtPyonQ/WLAsgDXJXVI/AAAAAAAACME/uR-ZY0ObpxoKnKFpYPfdUYSb3Q6HtgT6wCLcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k2nSQa2WGt4/WLAsfQtt2EI/AAAAAAAACLs/i7HybLqSSNg13BTOzepYFq2xMEJkby6hgCLcB/s1600/bloglovin.png" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57CMZYE-hIA/WLAsfZw4feI/AAAAAAAACLw/rxAzqwb37scW6sSadP6csFB9oIlWTZ9eQCLcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://charlottesbooks.tumblr.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iNPAc3E-gnE/WLaPgTeMsVI/AAAAAAAACQU/9pr5431hD74GV7U4s7FPXV77JWuQdhwRwCLcB/s1600/tumblr.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R5u7AjHsikg/WLAsgAqux6I/AAAAAAAACMA/V5K0xd5r1RYBLfCgD9Ab22qpPNgJFGHpACLcB/s1600/pinterest.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" target="_blank"><img alt="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Glw_DcJpyB0/WLAsf7ldGMI/AAAAAAAACL4/477mfmtG2WMl28-EyasJIbLbSURJRbRPQCLcB/s1600/google%252B.png" /></a></td><td><a href="mailto:bwormblogger@gmail.com" target="_blank"><img alt="bwormblogger@gmail.com" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d7yo6MW1sFM/WLAsf5FdGhI/AAAAAAAACL8/A3liVzPwlAUYYluvNkBAc5wJOOiJbFU8ACLcB/s1600/mail.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div>Charlotte Blackhttps://plus.google.com/101062532400721123197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430519442066245345.post-73279955166164272172017-05-26T20:27:00.000+01:002017-05-26T20:27:06.912+01:00Review: Endure (Defy #3) by Sara B. Larson <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1338095528/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=1338095528&amp;linkId=7e41139884708ed08267875839c6478f" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1338095528/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=1338095528&amp;linkId=7e41139884708ed08267875839c6478f" border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="311" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ai8wlwKcRJQ/WSh8dcfZ3CI/AAAAAAAACvY/imRKBDBTYPEpVhyaUsWHAJXzKa9200n6gCLcB/s400/Endure.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062360256/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0062360256&amp;linkId=https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1338095528/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=1338095528&amp;linkId=7e41139884708ed08267875839c6478f" target="_blank">Endure (Defy #3) by Sara B. Larson </a></b></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=albwormblogge-20&amp;l=am2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0316234494" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Published:</b> December 29th 2015 by Scholastic Press </div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<b>Rating</b>: 2 out of 5<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Available from: &nbsp;</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>&nbsp;</b></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1338095528/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=1338095528&amp;linkId=7e41139884708ed08267875839c6478f" target="_blank"><img alt="Amazon" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cBN9n_YXFUQ/WPMuIbp36DI/AAAAAAAACmU/t267fGBL5xU1wPTZDw1_enJy13oBJMi4wCPcB/s1600/amazon.png" /></a><a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/Endure-Defy-Book-3/9781338095524?a_aid=BookwormBloggerYA" target="_blank"><img alt="Book Depository" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bSDz8VOCue8/WPSRahx90EI/AAAAAAAACmg/7l4DNQbahdMo2XaZS9gK65jCe6228sS4ACLcB/s1600/BookDepository.png" /></a><a href="http://www.tkqlhce.com/mt80ox52x4KTONRTNUKMNONUNMR?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%2Fw%2Fendure-sara-b-larson%2F1121798251%3Fean%3D9780545644921&amp;cjsku=9780545644921" target="_blank"><img alt="Barnes and Noble" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DLjYTrZGvN4/WQn88hamloI/AAAAAAAACqk/lbaiWu_2HGIfG3ejVEB5gfTIsF7BTw4xgCLcB/s1600/barnes-and-noble.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Synopsis:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span id="freeText1601358370883542229">At last, Alexa and King Damian are engaged to be married. But their lives are far from safe. The kingdom of Antion is under siege, and Rylan is a prisoner of the enemy. Even worse, Alexa remains at the mercy of the evil Dansiian Rafe, who controls her mind and can force Alexa to kill or harm Damian at any moment. Despite this, Alexa is determined to rescue Rylan, which soon leads her far from Damian and deep into enemy territory.<br /><br />When she arrives, what awaits her is deadlier than anything she could have ever imagined: an army of black sorcerers and a horrifying plot to destroy the world as Alexa knows it. Will she be able to gather the strength to free herself, protect the love of her life, and save the land? Will there ever be true peace?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span id="freeText1601358370883542229">&nbsp;</span>✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a name='more'></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Review:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you've read my reviews for Defy and Ignite then you'll know my thoughts on this series so far. I have absolutely 'Endure'd' this series to the end. But I'm afraid to say I think the author ran out of ideas half way through book 2. This book is basically the synopsis. Nothing much else really happens. The evil baddie wants Alexa's blood so he can remake super soldiers. Lots of sidekicks die. Big fight at the end. HEA.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm won't spend a long time writing this one. I can only be reminded of Alanna and her series by Tamora Pierce which was epic. This one tried, I think, to recreate that magic and just didn't.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;If you've loved the series so far then you will enjoy this, but it wasn't for me.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp; <br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div>-CBx</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div>✤✤✤✤<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>About the Author</b></span></div><br /><i><span id="freeTextContainerauthor6950740">Sara B. Larson is the author of the acclaimed YA fantasy DEFY, and the sequels IGNITE and ENDURE. She can’t remember a time when she didn’t write books—although she now uses a computer instead of a Little Mermaid notebook. Sara lives in Utah with her husband and their three children. She writes in brief snippets throughout the day (while mourning the demise of naptime) and the quiet hours when most people are sleeping. Her husband claims she should have a degree in “the art of multitasking.” When she’s not mothering or writing, you can often find her at the gym repenting for her sugar addiction. </span></i> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b>You can find Sara B. Larson here:</b><br /><b>&nbsp;</b> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sarablarson.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WL-E10LNbZA/WLaqwbLR-TI/AAAAAAAACRg/qN7mGEDQn-gSaFhs7Ss_mWWJlS08D86BwCPcB/s1600/rss.png" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6950740.Sara_B_Larson" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BtDBfny2iO8/WLAp5ur6CwI/AAAAAAAACLg/23DNFE_mEBQ4of4CcZkpBT2gMr96Zbi3wCPcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a><a href="http://www.twitter.com/SaraBLarson" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zmNRlW2poRA/WLAp6MW8gsI/AAAAAAAACLg/wVhW5DIW4dkoD3pqZS0bv_6SKEBO-c7lwCPcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hfL2HL8Nj-U/WQ4dcjvWqWI/AAAAAAAACs8/igoHfB2GGmEU_tHL5iRDbrJ3NLSzlkytgCLcB/s1600/SaraBLarson.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hfL2HL8Nj-U/WQ4dcjvWqWI/AAAAAAAACs8/igoHfB2GGmEU_tHL5iRDbrJ3NLSzlkytgCLcB/s320/SaraBLarson.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div>✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Follow and Like</i> to Read More <i>Bookworm Blogger #YA</i> Reviews:</b><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-41eldXiqbRc/WLAsflS3nGI/AAAAAAAACL0/fYRh5lclvX4zPin4F6OQ6bbazrhWi3QvQCLcB/s1600/facebook.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" target="_blank"><img alt="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xOOCPtPyonQ/WLAsgDXJXVI/AAAAAAAACME/uR-ZY0ObpxoKnKFpYPfdUYSb3Q6HtgT6wCLcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k2nSQa2WGt4/WLAsfQtt2EI/AAAAAAAACLs/i7HybLqSSNg13BTOzepYFq2xMEJkby6hgCLcB/s1600/bloglovin.png" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57CMZYE-hIA/WLAsfZw4feI/AAAAAAAACLw/rxAzqwb37scW6sSadP6csFB9oIlWTZ9eQCLcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://charlottesbooks.tumblr.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iNPAc3E-gnE/WLaPgTeMsVI/AAAAAAAACQU/9pr5431hD74GV7U4s7FPXV77JWuQdhwRwCLcB/s1600/tumblr.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R5u7AjHsikg/WLAsgAqux6I/AAAAAAAACMA/V5K0xd5r1RYBLfCgD9Ab22qpPNgJFGHpACLcB/s1600/pinterest.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" target="_blank"><img alt="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Glw_DcJpyB0/WLAsf7ldGMI/AAAAAAAACL4/477mfmtG2WMl28-EyasJIbLbSURJRbRPQCLcB/s1600/google%252B.png" /></a></td><td><a href="mailto:bwormblogger@gmail.com" target="_blank"><img alt="bwormblogger@gmail.com" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d7yo6MW1sFM/WLAsf5FdGhI/AAAAAAAACL8/A3liVzPwlAUYYluvNkBAc5wJOOiJbFU8ACLcB/s1600/mail.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div>Charlotte Blackhttps://plus.google.com/101062532400721123197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430519442066245345.post-73823209942558199432017-05-26T20:01:00.000+01:002017-05-26T20:01:21.608+01:00Review: The Shadow Queen (Ravenspire #1) by C.J. Redwine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062360256/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0062360256&amp;linkId=e44bfd72670d932b40a2d727748e350f" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062360256/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0062360256&amp;linkId=e44bfd72670d932b40a2d727748e350f" border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LDxwacbMM20/WShrYLBE-8I/AAAAAAAACu8/Nm1FM-Tbew4siV8eJerm-sMgd27w1lk6QCLcB/s400/ShadowQueen.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062360256/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0062360256&amp;linkId=e44bfd72670d932b40a2d727748e350f" target="_blank">The Shadow Queen (Ravenspire #1) by C.J. Redwine</a></b></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=albwormblogge-20&amp;l=am2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0316234494" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Published:</b> February 16th 2016 by Balzer + Bray </div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<b>Rating</b>: 3 out of 5<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Available from: &nbsp;</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>&nbsp;</b></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062360256/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0062360256&amp;linkId=e44bfd72670d932b40a2d727748e350f" target="_blank"><img alt="Amazon" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cBN9n_YXFUQ/WPMuIbp36DI/AAAAAAAACmU/t267fGBL5xU1wPTZDw1_enJy13oBJMi4wCPcB/s1600/amazon.png" /></a><a href="http://www.tkqlhce.com/2d100biroiq5E98CE8F5768E7BB7?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebooks.com%2Fcj.asp%3FIID%3D2059783&amp;cjsku=2059783" target="_blank"><img 0="" alt="eBooks.com=" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kFrWDUEgV3o/WPSRanNW-RI/AAAAAAAACmo/Hez2X7U_N0Ysjt-MxdVlnt_DX7cqeOdbACPcB/s1600/Ebooks.png" /></a><a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/The-Shadow-Queen/9781407170602?a_aid=BookwormBloggerYA" target="_blank"><img alt="Book Depository" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bSDz8VOCue8/WPSRahx90EI/AAAAAAAACmg/7l4DNQbahdMo2XaZS9gK65jCe6228sS4ACLcB/s1600/BookDepository.png" /></a><a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/o5122xdmjdl0943793A02343A327?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%2Fw%2Fthe-shadow-queen-c-j-redwine%2F1122036672%3Fean%3D9780062360267&amp;cjsku=9780062360267" target="_blank"><img alt="Barnes and Noble" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DLjYTrZGvN4/WQn88hamloI/AAAAAAAACqk/lbaiWu_2HGIfG3ejVEB5gfTIsF7BTw4xgCLcB/s1600/barnes-and-noble.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Synopsis:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lorelai Diederich, crown princess and fugitive at large, has one mission: kill the wicked queen who took both the Ravenspire throne and the life of her father. To do that, Lorelai needs to use the one weapon she and Queen Irina have in common—magic. She’ll have to be stronger, faster, and more powerful than Irina, the most dangerous sorceress Ravenspire has ever seen.<br /><br />In the neighboring kingdom of Eldr, when Prince Kol’s father and older brother are killed by an invading army of magic-wielding ogres, the second-born prince is suddenly given the responsibility of saving his kingdom. To do that, Kol needs magic—and the only way to get it is to make a deal with the queen of Ravenspire, promise to become her personal huntsman…and bring her Lorelai’s heart.<br /><br />But Lorelai is nothing like Kol expected—beautiful, fierce, and unstoppable—and despite dark magic, Lorelai is drawn in by the passionate and troubled king. Fighting to stay one step ahead of the dragon huntsman—who she likes far more than she should—Lorelai does everything in her power to ruin the wicked queen. But Irina isn’t going down without a fight, and her final move may cost the princess the one thing she still has left to lose. <br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a name='more'></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Review:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>I don't read many retellings, and now I realise why. I like stories that are original, that are outside the box, and I like the unexpected. But if you've watched <i>Snow White and the Huntsman</i> or seen <i>Once Upon a Time</i>, then you may like The Shadow Queen.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">Lorelai is the young princess who encourages her father to marry again after her mother's death. Irina was her mother's sister, and they both shared a secret. They both had magic. But when Irina enslaves everyone in the castle, including Lorelai's father, to do her bidding, Lorelai knows she's the only one who can break the curse. With disastrous effects. Irina crumbles the palace to the ground in her rage but Lorelai and her brother Leo are saved by a guard, Gabril. The three spend nine years after the kings death plotting, planning and surviving while they watch the kingdom of Ravenspire fall under Irina's spell. The country is dying, its people starving. Lorelai knows she has to act soon or there will be nothing for her to rule. The throne is rightfully hers.</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">In a sweep of unfortunate fate, Prince Kol loses her father, mother and older brother to the ogre wars. He's a playboy, a trickster and his people are all half dragons. They have two hearts, human and dragon beating in their chests. The war with the ogres is devastating and Kol must do something when he realises the ogres are using a magic wielder to fight. His army is getting smaller, and soon there will be no one left to protect the people. He must visit the Mardushka Queen in Ravenspire and ask for her help, and a little magic to defeat the enemy.</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">However, Irina has other plans. She claims a blood oath and asks Kol to kill the princess, and only then will she help with the ogres. But little does Kol know that when he visited a poor village, and needed rescuing, the kind girl who got him to safety was Lorelai, the rightful queen.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now it's Kol as a Huntsman, against the princess, and Irina has tricked Kol. He must kill the one who saved him to get his lands back, and the ogre problem under control. It's good versus evil to the end.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Shadow Queen is very quick paced to read. The problem I had was the third person point of view. Somehow it didn't work for me. The depth of the writing came over as too shallow. The story, and characters came over as too insular. There is also a great amount of defining and refining points of character. Lorelai must save her kingdom. Kol must save his. People must stop dying. Irina must be stopped etc. Sometimes the defining and action/reaction got so repetitive I must admit to getting a little bored.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Leo, Lorelai's younger brother was a great character and added a large amount of humour but I can only think that the author got bored of trying out the witty repartie and decided to kill him off, leaving Lorelai with room to fall in love with Kol.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The magic use was a little dull too. Irina casts a spell, Lorelai counters it. Cast/counter, cast/counter. Lorelai actually started flipping and somersaulting her way around fights without ever sounding like anything was too complex for her, making her character a little too unbelievable.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">All in all, while the book was a nice read, ther were no little quirks that made it stand out as a brilliant book. To be honest, it all come over as fan-fiction of the <i>Once Upon a Time </i>series.</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">If you love Snow White and the numerous retellings of her, then you'll like this. If you like originality then you might want to pass this one up. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp; <br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div>-CBx</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div>✤✤✤✤<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>About the Author</b></span></div><br /><i>C.J. Redwine loves fairy tales, Harry Potter, and any movie starring Johnny Depp. She is the author of the Defiance trilogy, a post-apocalyptic fantasy from Balzer + Bray. C.J. lives in Nashville with her husband and children. If the novel writing gig ever falls through, she’ll join the Avengers and wear a cape to work every day. </i><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>You can find C.J. Redwine here:</b><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://cjredwine.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WL-E10LNbZA/WLaqwbLR-TI/AAAAAAAACRg/qN7mGEDQn-gSaFhs7Ss_mWWJlS08D86BwCPcB/s1600/rss.png" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4864634.C_J_Redwine" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BtDBfny2iO8/WLAp5ur6CwI/AAAAAAAACLg/23DNFE_mEBQ4of4CcZkpBT2gMr96Zbi3wCPcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a><a href="http://www.twitter.com/cjredwine" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zmNRlW2poRA/WLAp6MW8gsI/AAAAAAAACLg/wVhW5DIW4dkoD3pqZS0bv_6SKEBO-c7lwCPcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UJKnl8FyTgA/WSh6E9tMEzI/AAAAAAAACvM/hkv_bBhcznQ_NbmWDUG_kw2JsoYvjrbEQCLcB/s1600/CJRedwine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="426" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UJKnl8FyTgA/WSh6E9tMEzI/AAAAAAAACvM/hkv_bBhcznQ_NbmWDUG_kw2JsoYvjrbEQCLcB/s320/CJRedwine.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><br /></div>✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Follow and Like</i> to Read More <i>Bookworm Blogger #YA</i> Reviews:</b><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-41eldXiqbRc/WLAsflS3nGI/AAAAAAAACL0/fYRh5lclvX4zPin4F6OQ6bbazrhWi3QvQCLcB/s1600/facebook.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" target="_blank"><img alt="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xOOCPtPyonQ/WLAsgDXJXVI/AAAAAAAACME/uR-ZY0ObpxoKnKFpYPfdUYSb3Q6HtgT6wCLcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k2nSQa2WGt4/WLAsfQtt2EI/AAAAAAAACLs/i7HybLqSSNg13BTOzepYFq2xMEJkby6hgCLcB/s1600/bloglovin.png" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57CMZYE-hIA/WLAsfZw4feI/AAAAAAAACLw/rxAzqwb37scW6sSadP6csFB9oIlWTZ9eQCLcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://charlottesbooks.tumblr.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iNPAc3E-gnE/WLaPgTeMsVI/AAAAAAAACQU/9pr5431hD74GV7U4s7FPXV77JWuQdhwRwCLcB/s1600/tumblr.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R5u7AjHsikg/WLAsgAqux6I/AAAAAAAACMA/V5K0xd5r1RYBLfCgD9Ab22qpPNgJFGHpACLcB/s1600/pinterest.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" target="_blank"><img alt="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Glw_DcJpyB0/WLAsf7ldGMI/AAAAAAAACL4/477mfmtG2WMl28-EyasJIbLbSURJRbRPQCLcB/s1600/google%252B.png" /></a></td><td><a href="mailto:bwormblogger@gmail.com" target="_blank"><img alt="bwormblogger@gmail.com" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d7yo6MW1sFM/WLAsf5FdGhI/AAAAAAAACL8/A3liVzPwlAUYYluvNkBAc5wJOOiJbFU8ACLcB/s1600/mail.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div>Charlotte Blackhttps://plus.google.com/101062532400721123197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430519442066245345.post-54902162917268420772017-05-22T11:00:00.000+01:002017-05-22T11:00:12.788+01:00Review: Glass Sword (Red Queen #2) by Victoria Aveyard<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062310666/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0062310666&amp;linkId=c22dfa73f8430373470554e3a6728a5a" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062310666/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0062310666&amp;linkId=c22dfa73f8430373470554e3a6728a5a" border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-02j7mKzlPow/WSG1Tw3_ZgI/AAAAAAAACuI/OBLuxBxyBFUg6uFLEU71AZDn3IDnV6d3QCLcB/s400/GlassSword.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062310666/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0062310666&amp;linkId=c22dfa73f8430373470554e3a6728a5a" target="_blank">Glass Sword (Red Queen #2) by Victoria Aveyard&nbsp;</a></b></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=albwormblogge-20&amp;l=am2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0316234494" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Published:</b> February 9th 2016 by HarperTeen </div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<b>Rating</b>: 4 out of 5</div><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Available from: &nbsp;</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>&nbsp;</b></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062310666/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0062310666&amp;linkId=c22dfa73f8430373470554e3a6728a5a" target="_blank"><img alt="Amazon" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cBN9n_YXFUQ/WPMuIbp36DI/AAAAAAAACmU/t267fGBL5xU1wPTZDw1_enJy13oBJMi4wCPcB/s1600/amazon.png" /></a><a href="http://www.jdoqocy.com/t0122kjspjr6FA9DF9G6879F8CC8?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebooks.com%2Fcj.asp%3FIID%3D2129856&amp;cjsku=2129856" target="_blank"><img 0="" alt="eBooks.com=" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kFrWDUEgV3o/WPSRanNW-RI/AAAAAAAACmo/Hez2X7U_N0Ysjt-MxdVlnt_DX7cqeOdbACPcB/s1600/Ebooks.png" /></a><a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/Glass-Sword/9781409150749?a_aid=BookwormBloggerYA" target="_blank"><img alt="Book Depository" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bSDz8VOCue8/WPSRahx90EI/AAAAAAAACmg/7l4DNQbahdMo2XaZS9gK65jCe6228sS4ACLcB/s1600/BookDepository.png" /></a><a href="http://www.dpbolvw.net/2f81nmvsmu9IDCGICJ9BCDCJCBG?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%2Fw%2Fglass-sword-victoria-aveyard%2F1122187012%3Fean%3D9780062310682&amp;cjsku=9780062310682" target="_blank"><img alt="Barnes and Noble" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DLjYTrZGvN4/WQn88hamloI/AAAAAAAACqk/lbaiWu_2HGIfG3ejVEB5gfTIsF7BTw4xgCLcB/s1600/barnes-and-noble.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Synopsis:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>If there’s one thing Mare Barrow knows, it’s that she’s different.</i><br /><br />Mare Barrow’s blood is red—the color of common folk—but her Silver ability, the power to control lightning, has turned her into a weapon that the royal court tries to control. <br /><br />The crown calls her an impossibility, a fake, but as she makes her escape from Maven, the prince—the friend—who betrayed her, Mare uncovers something startling: she is not the only one of her kind.<br /><br />Pursued by Maven, now a vindictive king, Mare sets out to find and recruit other Red-and-Silver fighters to join in the struggle against her oppressors. <br /><br />But Mare finds herself on a deadly path, at risk of becoming exactly the kind of monster she is trying to defeat. <br /><br />Will she shatter under the weight of the lives that are the cost of rebellion? Or have treachery and betrayal hardened her forever?<br /><br />The electrifying next installment in the Red Queen series escalates the struggle between the growing rebel army and the blood-segregated world they’ve always known—and pits Mare against the darkness that has grown in her soul. <br /><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a name='more'></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Review:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Now that we have the ground work in place with<i> Red Queen</i>, it's sequel, <i>Glass Sword</i> has a lot to live up to. This is is a book about search and rescue. Plain and simple. The journey is a little more harrowing than Mare, Cal and her Scarlet Guard colleagues envisaged.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">The book starts exactly as <i>Red Queen</i> left off. Mare and Cal are with the Scarlet Guard in one of the underground trains. Nobody trusts Cal, a Silver blood Crown Prince, even though he's now on the run like Mare. He's treated like a prisoner but he doesn't mind, he almost accepts his fate. They're all headed for the ruined city they visited in book 1. Only now, as Mare points out, the city is also known by King Maven, when he was pretending to be part of the rebellion. They all come to the conclusion they must evacuate the city of rebel members as soon as they arrive. Only when they do, Maven is already hot on their tails. Cal and Mare, with her once-thought-dead brother, Shade, get the remaining people out by the skin of their teeth. But Maven promises Mare, he will come after her again and again, at all costs. He wants her back.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">They escape in a submarine for a little island away from all the action. The rebels have been busy and the island is well equipped to be their next base of action. Mare also finds her family have removed themselves from the Stilts, and her two other brothers, Bree and Tramy, have got away from frontline action in the war. They are all relieved Mare is back safe and away from the palace.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">They meet up with a red-eyed colonel who they realise is Farley's father. Mare wants to start on her quest for Newbloods-ones like her with red blood but silver abilities-but the Colonel keeps stalling her. She searches for Cal, instead, only to find him locked away. Mare was always told at the Palace, Trust no one. Here, she crosses wills with her best friend, Kilorn, who is now one of the Colonel's men. Mare gets locked up with Cal. Eventually they find out it's all part of the plan to escape the island from the Colonel's clutches. Farley, Kilorn, Shade, Mare and Cal all fly away aboard a stolen jet and begin their quest.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But Maven knows who they're seeking and it's a race against time to find the newbloods and persuade them to join the cause. Join the cause or die at Maven's hand. The job is difficult and most of the time they find the newbloods already dead. Once Maven even waited for them to arrive so he could capture Mare, but she got away, thanks to her brother.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The tables have now turned and everything Mare once knew about the Scarlet Guard has changed. She thought Farley was in charge, only to find its the Colonel. She thought the Colonel was in charge only to find it's Command. She and Cal get deeper into the web of intrigue that far and away matches the Court. A place Mare really doesn't want to return to.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Her solace becomes Cal. Eventually they make an unlikely team and trust each other enough to watch each others backs. But this isn't a romance. Too many variables are against them. The fact that Cal won't kill Silvers while they're on their hunt becomes a sticking point. One that eventually turns them away from each other. Cal is Silver, Mare is Red. They will never agree.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Glass Sword</i> relies heavily on it's side characters, and they are a motley crew, easily relatable to, and all have their own curves and sharp edges to their personas. Mare's job isn't easy and hardly anyone joins them willingly. Nearly everyone resents her. When they rescue the prisoners, the shock was the double cross from the Newblood Jon, which ultimately led to Shade's death.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Once again, for me, it's the relationship between Cal and Mare that keeps the balance of minds in check. Soon, they all rely on one of these two to help target the Newbloods and their journey isn't an easy one.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Scarlet Guard has also become an entity with invisible backers that no doubt have some political agenda when it comes to the 100 year war, and the slaughter of Reds versus Silvers. Their motives have not yet been confirmed, other than removing the royals from the throne. Can it really be that simple or are their plans much further down the line than we are lead to believe? </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Glass Sword</i> is a solid sequel to <i>Red Queen</i>, with a divide now falling heavily against our main characters. In a doomed finalé, the tipping point is one we knew would come but could scarcely imagine. All compasses now point at Mare, which way will she turn, and will the others survive?</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp; <br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div>-CBx</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div>✤✤✤✤<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>About the Author</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><i>Victoria Aveyard graduated from USC, where she majored in screenwriting. RED QUEEN is her first novel. She splits her time between Massachusetts and Los Angeles.</i></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>You can find Victoria Aveyard here:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://www.victoriaaveyard.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WL-E10LNbZA/WLaqwbLR-TI/AAAAAAAACRg/qN7mGEDQn-gSaFhs7Ss_mWWJlS08D86BwCPcB/s1600/rss.png" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7074943.Victoria_Aveyard" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BtDBfny2iO8/WLAp5ur6CwI/AAAAAAAACLg/23DNFE_mEBQ4of4CcZkpBT2gMr96Zbi3wCPcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a><a href="http://www.twitter.com/victoriaaveyard" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zmNRlW2poRA/WLAp6MW8gsI/AAAAAAAACLg/wVhW5DIW4dkoD3pqZS0bv_6SKEBO-c7lwCPcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i3lbjyibZAM/WSGaR4mEAsI/AAAAAAAACt4/sFC5pV5s0vUF0OxzyPPTqWz_0ULH-2cWACLcB/s1600/VictoriaAveyard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i3lbjyibZAM/WSGaR4mEAsI/AAAAAAAACt4/sFC5pV5s0vUF0OxzyPPTqWz_0ULH-2cWACLcB/s320/VictoriaAveyard.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br /></div>✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Follow and Like</i> to Read More <i>Bookworm Blogger #YA</i> Reviews:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-41eldXiqbRc/WLAsflS3nGI/AAAAAAAACL0/fYRh5lclvX4zPin4F6OQ6bbazrhWi3QvQCLcB/s1600/facebook.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" target="_blank"><img alt="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xOOCPtPyonQ/WLAsgDXJXVI/AAAAAAAACME/uR-ZY0ObpxoKnKFpYPfdUYSb3Q6HtgT6wCLcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k2nSQa2WGt4/WLAsfQtt2EI/AAAAAAAACLs/i7HybLqSSNg13BTOzepYFq2xMEJkby6hgCLcB/s1600/bloglovin.png" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57CMZYE-hIA/WLAsfZw4feI/AAAAAAAACLw/rxAzqwb37scW6sSadP6csFB9oIlWTZ9eQCLcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://charlottesbooks.tumblr.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iNPAc3E-gnE/WLaPgTeMsVI/AAAAAAAACQU/9pr5431hD74GV7U4s7FPXV77JWuQdhwRwCLcB/s1600/tumblr.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R5u7AjHsikg/WLAsgAqux6I/AAAAAAAACMA/V5K0xd5r1RYBLfCgD9Ab22qpPNgJFGHpACLcB/s1600/pinterest.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" target="_blank"><img alt="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Glw_DcJpyB0/WLAsf7ldGMI/AAAAAAAACL4/477mfmtG2WMl28-EyasJIbLbSURJRbRPQCLcB/s1600/google%252B.png" /></a></td><td><a href="mailto:bwormblogger@gmail.com" target="_blank"><img alt="bwormblogger@gmail.com" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d7yo6MW1sFM/WLAsf5FdGhI/AAAAAAAACL8/A3liVzPwlAUYYluvNkBAc5wJOOiJbFU8ACLcB/s1600/mail.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div>Charlotte Blackhttps://plus.google.com/101062532400721123197noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430519442066245345.post-64442597551871302312017-05-21T16:19:00.001+01:002017-05-21T16:19:18.037+01:00Review: Red Queen (Red Queen #1) by Victoria Aveyard <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/006231064X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=006231064X&amp;linkId=9f0d308a6724ff933f18ecc3d65b09e0" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/006231064X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=006231064X&amp;linkId=9f0d308a6724ff933f18ecc3d65b09e0" border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UqTobsQhIZA/WSGW4uylhjI/AAAAAAAACts/ZbZHK6graF8z5cZ6tHzz-7aIBMWjxhZ8ACLcB/s400/redq.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/006231064X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=006231064X&amp;linkId=9f0d308a6724ff933f18ecc3d65b09e0" target="_blank">Red Queen (Red Queen #1) by Victoria Aveyard&nbsp;</a></b></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=albwormblogge-20&amp;l=am2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0316234494" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Published:</b> February 10th 2015 by HarperTeen </div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<b>Rating</b>: *6 out of 5<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Available from: &nbsp;</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>&nbsp;</b></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/006231064X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=006231064X&amp;linkId=9f0d308a6724ff933f18ecc3d65b09e0" target="_blank"><img alt="Amazon" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cBN9n_YXFUQ/WPMuIbp36DI/AAAAAAAACmU/t267fGBL5xU1wPTZDw1_enJy13oBJMi4wCPcB/s1600/amazon.png" /></a><a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/i6104uoxuowBKFEIKELBDCEKDHHD?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebooks.com%2Fcj.asp%3FIID%3D1886355&amp;cjsku=1886355" target="_blank"><img 0="" alt="eBooks.com=" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kFrWDUEgV3o/WPSRanNW-RI/AAAAAAAACmo/Hez2X7U_N0Ysjt-MxdVlnt_DX7cqeOdbACPcB/s1600/Ebooks.png" /></a><a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/The-Red-Queen/9781409150725?a_aid=BookwormBloggerYA" target="_blank"><img alt="Book Depository" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bSDz8VOCue8/WPSRahx90EI/AAAAAAAACmg/7l4DNQbahdMo2XaZS9gK65jCe6228sS4ACLcB/s1600/BookDepository.png" /></a><a href="http://prodimage.barnesandnoble.com/pimages/9780062310651_p0_v10.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Barnes and Noble" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DLjYTrZGvN4/WQn88hamloI/AAAAAAAACqk/lbaiWu_2HGIfG3ejVEB5gfTIsF7BTw4xgCLcB/s1600/barnes-and-noble.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Synopsis:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span id="freeText1407013238928653162">This is a world divided by blood – red or silver.<br /><br />The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change.<br /><br />That is, until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power.<br /><br />Fearful of Mare’s potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime.<br /><br />But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance – Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart.</span><br /><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a name='more'></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Review:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />I think it's pretty safe to say this is probably the best book I have read in a while. Maybe a few years. If you like good v evil, rich v poor, royals v servants and general poor people, a poor girl who rises quickly to possibly destroy a kingdom, all of those - well, this book is for you.<br /><br />I'm not going to say it's mostly, completely original. However, the following can safely be said. The world created by Aveyard is tremendous. There isn't a character in this book that doesn't have a place in this story. Everyone plays a part somehow, and it isn't until you reach the very, very end that you can decide who the good guys are and who the baddies/evil ones are.<br /><br />In the beginning, it's First Friday, a national day that every Red has to visit their local arena and see the might of the fighting Silvers. A gladiator combat battle, if you will. These take place so that news reports can be distributed to the poor Reds, and they can fear the Silvers and their mighty supernatural powers all the more.<br /><br />Red and Silver is the colour of the blood. The Reds are the underlings. The Silvers are the ruling class. Their blood is silver, they bleed silver. The royal family and all the governors, councillors, people of power are Silvers. They rule over the Reds, keeping them firmly down the ladder of life. They tell each other <i>reds are rats, reds have no worth, reds deserve their fate.</i><br /><br />Mare<i> </i>Barrow lives in the Stilts, with her Mum, her Dad, who is disfigured and one legged from fighting in the war, and her younger sister, Gisa. Gisa is talented. She can sew beautifully with silk and jewels. Her work is so liked that Silvers buy it when she visits the Grand Garden in the Summerton Palace. Mare, on the other hand, is a thief. It's the only way she can help her family survive. She picks pockets and sells what she can to Will Whistle, a travelling tradesman, who doesn't question her source.<br /><br />Mare's best friend is Kilorn, an apprenticed fisher boy. Mare knows her days are numbered and soon her conscription papers will arrive to go to the front line of a war that has been fought for the last hundred years. Kilorn won't go because he has a job. Until his master dies suddenly. Mare can't bear the thought of Kilorn going to the front. She hears such terrible stories from her brother, Shade, who is fighting along with her other two brothers. She visits Will, knowing he trades on the black market, and asks for safe passage for two 'Red' passengers. She only gets an agreement when she meets Farley, a rebel leader of the Scarlet Guard. Farley agrees to take them for an extortionate amount of money. Still, Mare is resourceful. She knows if Gisa takes her into the Silvers Grand Garden she can pick a few pockets. Nothing goes to plan. Mare and Gisa arrive just as a riot is starting. Silvers begin to bully, round-up and kill Reds after a TV broadcast by the Scarlet Guard. Mare is in the wrong place at the wrong time. She manages to escape but not before her sister's hand gets obliterated by an overzealous guard.<br /><br />On the way home, Mare walks past a tavern on the outskirts of her village. Drunkards make easy pickings and she makes a good sum of money, until she picks the pocket of a smart young man. He's different, speaks different. He introduces himself as Cal and walks her home. Before she can help herself Mare opens up her heart and tells him everything<br /><br />. The next day she is summoned to the palace. Not only did 'Cal' give her more money than she could dream of before he left her the night before, he also got her a job as a palace servant. But with hours of her being there, she gets accidentally knocked over the side of the balcony and saves herself using a web of lightening she had no idea she had. She's got Red blood but Silver abilities. Straight away she gets taken inside, away from anyone who could see. She realises the person who has stayed with her is Cal. He's also the Crown Prince, and a Silver himself.<br /><br />In an extraordinary twist of fate, Mare finds herself in front of the King. She's unable to explain how she has her powers but with immediate effect she's given a new identity. She must pretend she's Silver, forget her past, and she must marry the younger prince. Not Cal. His brother, Maven for her own safety. No one in the palace has ever seen a red with Silver abilities and the royal family are afraid of what the other High Silvers would do to Mare.<br /><br />She begins her new life, rarely sees Cal and begins learning history and training her abilities. No one is kind to her except Maven. Cal is, to a degree, but he has his own betrothed in Evangeline, who won the Queenstrial, the competition Mare was working at.<br /><br />Royal intrigue, twists of fate, backstabbing, deception and the repeated addage <i>Trust no one</i>. With all this going on now, Mare has to watch her every step, keep her mouth shut, and learn who her enemies are. Because there are many that want her dead. <br /><br />Red Queen is a terrific example of a well thought out, fast paced, escape novel. Not only does the country, cities, villages and palaces take us on a journey, but the newness and oldness of everything from the architecture to the modern gadgets makes this world believable. If the US were advanced 200 years I could quite well believe this book was based there. As I wrote earlier, every character has a purpose and a place, nothing is left to chance, and the terrain always changes.<br /><br />The supernatural abilities of the Silvers are also well thought out. Mare can control lightening and electricity. Cal and Maven follow their father, the King's ability, of using fire. Maven's mother, the Queen, is a whisper - she can see into your mind. Mare's tutor, Julian is a Singer, he can manipulate you to do things at his will. Others are Magnetrons, who can use metal, Oblivions, who can destroy objects and so on. But Mare learns something unique. Silvers can only use their gifts with the aid of a bracelet or something to draw the gift out. Mare's comes naturally. She can draw lightening from nothing. She now has the advantage.<br /><br />The Scarlet Guard is an intriguing sidestep into the rebellion which has deep pockets, and which every Silver is scared of. They are able to get their hands on supplies from other parts of the nation and adjoining countries. When they approach Mare and Maven to help, both say yes. <br /><br />As for the romance, clearly Cal was introduced first for a reason, but it is Maven who Mare gets sided with and together they wind their way though the workings of the palace court, and into the depths of the Scarlet Guard. Only, one of them is lying - about everything.<br /><br />Mare is a likeable character. While all Silvers have their own opinion on the reds, Mare has been brought up a Red and has been brought up to hate the Silvers. She didn't have a choice when she was made Maven's fiancée, but she uses her hatred of the Silvers to work with the Scarlet Guard, and also for her own ends. She doesn't forget her beginnings, although the Royal family all want her to. She thinks of her family all the time, and does what she can to help them.<br /><br />Altogether, Red Queen is a brilliant first novel of a series I'm expecting to enjoy. With the ending as volatile as it was, Mare must now set her sights on a new path, to discover new <i>Newbloods</i> like herself. She has to find them before Maven does. And the journey will be most difficult in the pit of vipers she must now calls her allies. <br />&nbsp; <br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div>-CBx</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div>✤✤✤✤<br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>About the Author</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><i>Victoria Aveyard graduated from USC, where she majored in screenwriting. RED QUEEN is her first novel. She splits her time between Massachusetts and Los Angeles.</i></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>You can find Victoria Aveyard here:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://www.victoriaaveyard.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WL-E10LNbZA/WLaqwbLR-TI/AAAAAAAACRg/qN7mGEDQn-gSaFhs7Ss_mWWJlS08D86BwCPcB/s1600/rss.png" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7074943.Victoria_Aveyard" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BtDBfny2iO8/WLAp5ur6CwI/AAAAAAAACLg/23DNFE_mEBQ4of4CcZkpBT2gMr96Zbi3wCPcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a><a href="http://www.twitter.com/victoriaaveyard" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zmNRlW2poRA/WLAp6MW8gsI/AAAAAAAACLg/wVhW5DIW4dkoD3pqZS0bv_6SKEBO-c7lwCPcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i3lbjyibZAM/WSGaR4mEAsI/AAAAAAAACt4/sFC5pV5s0vUF0OxzyPPTqWz_0ULH-2cWACLcB/s1600/VictoriaAveyard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i3lbjyibZAM/WSGaR4mEAsI/AAAAAAAACt4/sFC5pV5s0vUF0OxzyPPTqWz_0ULH-2cWACLcB/s320/VictoriaAveyard.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br /></div>✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Follow and Like</i> to Read More <i>Bookworm Blogger #YA</i> Reviews:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-41eldXiqbRc/WLAsflS3nGI/AAAAAAAACL0/fYRh5lclvX4zPin4F6OQ6bbazrhWi3QvQCLcB/s1600/facebook.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" target="_blank"><img alt="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xOOCPtPyonQ/WLAsgDXJXVI/AAAAAAAACME/uR-ZY0ObpxoKnKFpYPfdUYSb3Q6HtgT6wCLcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k2nSQa2WGt4/WLAsfQtt2EI/AAAAAAAACLs/i7HybLqSSNg13BTOzepYFq2xMEJkby6hgCLcB/s1600/bloglovin.png" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57CMZYE-hIA/WLAsfZw4feI/AAAAAAAACLw/rxAzqwb37scW6sSadP6csFB9oIlWTZ9eQCLcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://charlottesbooks.tumblr.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iNPAc3E-gnE/WLaPgTeMsVI/AAAAAAAACQU/9pr5431hD74GV7U4s7FPXV77JWuQdhwRwCLcB/s1600/tumblr.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R5u7AjHsikg/WLAsgAqux6I/AAAAAAAACMA/V5K0xd5r1RYBLfCgD9Ab22qpPNgJFGHpACLcB/s1600/pinterest.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" target="_blank"><img alt="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Glw_DcJpyB0/WLAsf7ldGMI/AAAAAAAACL4/477mfmtG2WMl28-EyasJIbLbSURJRbRPQCLcB/s1600/google%252B.png" /></a></td><td><a href="mailto:bwormblogger@gmail.com" target="_blank"><img alt="bwormblogger@gmail.com" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d7yo6MW1sFM/WLAsf5FdGhI/AAAAAAAACL8/A3liVzPwlAUYYluvNkBAc5wJOOiJbFU8ACLcB/s1600/mail.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div>Charlotte Blackhttps://plus.google.com/101062532400721123197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430519442066245345.post-61058645897618080602017-05-15T19:58:00.000+01:002017-05-21T16:22:43.873+01:00Review. Ignite (Defy #2) by Sara B. Larson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0545644747/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0545644747&amp;linkId=4c6abf5211a71c1560a6ab82008b6044" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0545644747/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0545644747&amp;linkId=4c6abf5211a71c1560a6ab82008b6044" border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E3L0Cn5MPoo/WRnzIo00YvI/AAAAAAAACtc/O2vg5q9RYJo5u_zYSoUVwdgn21Oe2L-HQCLcB/s400/Ignite.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0545644747/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0545644747&amp;linkId=4c6abf5211a71c1560a6ab82008b6044" target="_blank">Ignite (Defy #2) by Sara B. Larson</a></b></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=albwormblogge-20&amp;l=am2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0316234494" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Published:</b> December 30th 2014 by Scholastic Press</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<b>Rating</b>: 2 out of 5</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Available from: &nbsp;</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>&nbsp;</b></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0545644747/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0545644747&amp;linkId=4c6abf5211a71c1560a6ab82008b6044" target="_blank"><img alt="Amazon" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cBN9n_YXFUQ/WPMuIbp36DI/AAAAAAAACmU/t267fGBL5xU1wPTZDw1_enJy13oBJMi4wCPcB/s1600/amazon.png" /></a><a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/Ignite-Defy-Book-2-Sar-B-Larson/9780545835633?a_aid=BookwormBloggerYA" target="_blank"><img alt="Book Depository" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bSDz8VOCue8/WPSRahx90EI/AAAAAAAACmg/7l4DNQbahdMo2XaZS9gK65jCe6228sS4ACLcB/s1600/BookDepository.png" /></a><a href="http://www.jdoqocy.com/sa101biroiq5E98CE8F57898F87C?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%2Fw%2Fignite-sara-b-larson%2F1119689431%3Fean%3D9780545644754&amp;cjsku=9780545644754" target="_blank"><img alt="Barnes and Noble" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DLjYTrZGvN4/WQn88hamloI/AAAAAAAACqk/lbaiWu_2HGIfG3ejVEB5gfTIsF7BTw4xgCLcB/s1600/barnes-and-noble.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Synopsis:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span id="freeText7460844419677412090">Murder, abductions, and forbidden romance abound in this thrilling sequel to Sara B. Larson's acclaimed YA debut, DEFY.<br /><br />Alexa remains by the newly crowned King Damian’s side as his guard, ever committed to helping him rebuild Antion and reclaim the hope of Antion's people, despite continuing to harbor a secret love for him. However, when another threat to Damian and his kingdom emerges, and blame is cast on their newly forged allies from Blevon, Alexa knows things are not what they seem. With the fate of her nation hanging in the balance once again, will Alexa be able to protect her king and uncover the true enemy—before it's too late?</span><br /><b>&nbsp;</b> ✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a name='more'></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Review:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sequels or second books have a good reputation for taking the world from the first book and exploding with ten times the universe for the second. Usually everything is expanded, new characters plot into the story line as if they've always been there. Usually after book 1 some key side-kicks have met the dust so new people are good. As long as they don't try and take over the storyline.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this sequel to Defy. I was expecting Defy plus more, and it wasn't. Damien is now King on his throne. After a couple of days he has royal visitors from Dansii. The Duke of Montklief's son and daughter. Lady Vera is, obviously, dangerously stunning. Enough for Alexa to have serious doubts about not only herself but Damien's wandering eye too. She's worried he might be swayed by Vera's perfect skin and Lady like qualities. I didn't like Vera from the start. She was written like your stereotypical bad guy. You could read through the lines as to what and why she did what she did. Surely a kingdom just coming down from being ruled by a tyrant would have a vetting service of some kind before allowing unknowns to visit the king in his throne room, royalty or not. And that business with the poisoning was just cheesy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">There wasn't a great storyline either and the biggest plot seemed to be Jax getting kidnapped and Alexa bringing him back somehow.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Alexa also has a tough time with her romances. Of course she's not supposed to have time for all that when she's saving the kingdom from Vera's brother Rafe, going back and forth to rescue Jax and being a girl with scars while trying to act like a soldier still. Phew!</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm afraid I didn't like Ignite a great deal. I didn't find anything new or imaginative about the story which is so similar to about a hundred other stories I've read. I was also expecting her to become a hero at the end and get Rylan away from Rafe but she just went running for the trees instead, leaving her best friend injured and with the enemy. Says it all really.<br /><br />-CBx</div><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>About the Author</b></span></div><i><span id="freeTextContainerauthor6950740">Sara B. Larson is the author of the acclaimed YA fantasy DEFY, and the sequels IGNITE and ENDURE. She can’t remember a time when she didn’t write books—although she now uses a computer instead of a Little Mermaid notebook. Sara lives in Utah with her husband and their three children. She writes in brief snippets throughout the day (while mourning the demise of naptime) and the quiet hours when most people are sleeping. Her husband claims she should have a degree in “the art of multitasking.” When she’s not mothering or writing, you can often find her at the gym repenting for her sugar addiction. </span></i> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b>You can find Sara B. Larson here:</b><br /><b>&nbsp;</b> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sarablarson.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WL-E10LNbZA/WLaqwbLR-TI/AAAAAAAACRg/qN7mGEDQn-gSaFhs7Ss_mWWJlS08D86BwCPcB/s1600/rss.png" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6950740.Sara_B_Larson" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BtDBfny2iO8/WLAp5ur6CwI/AAAAAAAACLg/23DNFE_mEBQ4of4CcZkpBT2gMr96Zbi3wCPcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a><a href="http://www.twitter.com/SaraBLarson" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zmNRlW2poRA/WLAp6MW8gsI/AAAAAAAACLg/wVhW5DIW4dkoD3pqZS0bv_6SKEBO-c7lwCPcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hfL2HL8Nj-U/WQ4dcjvWqWI/AAAAAAAACs8/igoHfB2GGmEU_tHL5iRDbrJ3NLSzlkytgCLcB/s1600/SaraBLarson.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hfL2HL8Nj-U/WQ4dcjvWqWI/AAAAAAAACs8/igoHfB2GGmEU_tHL5iRDbrJ3NLSzlkytgCLcB/s320/SaraBLarson.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤ </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><i>Follow and Like</i> to Read More <i>Bookworm Blogger #YA</i> Reviews:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-41eldXiqbRc/WLAsflS3nGI/AAAAAAAACL0/fYRh5lclvX4zPin4F6OQ6bbazrhWi3QvQCLcB/s1600/facebook.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" target="_blank"><img alt="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xOOCPtPyonQ/WLAsgDXJXVI/AAAAAAAACME/uR-ZY0ObpxoKnKFpYPfdUYSb3Q6HtgT6wCLcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k2nSQa2WGt4/WLAsfQtt2EI/AAAAAAAACLs/i7HybLqSSNg13BTOzepYFq2xMEJkby6hgCLcB/s1600/bloglovin.png" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57CMZYE-hIA/WLAsfZw4feI/AAAAAAAACLw/rxAzqwb37scW6sSadP6csFB9oIlWTZ9eQCLcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://charlottesbooks.tumblr.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iNPAc3E-gnE/WLaPgTeMsVI/AAAAAAAACQU/9pr5431hD74GV7U4s7FPXV77JWuQdhwRwCLcB/s1600/tumblr.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R5u7AjHsikg/WLAsgAqux6I/AAAAAAAACMA/V5K0xd5r1RYBLfCgD9Ab22qpPNgJFGHpACLcB/s1600/pinterest.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" target="_blank"><img alt="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Glw_DcJpyB0/WLAsf7ldGMI/AAAAAAAACL4/477mfmtG2WMl28-EyasJIbLbSURJRbRPQCLcB/s1600/google%252B.png" /></a></td><td><a href="mailto:bwormblogger@gmail.com" target="_blank"><img alt="bwormblogger@gmail.com" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d7yo6MW1sFM/WLAsf5FdGhI/AAAAAAAACL8/A3liVzPwlAUYYluvNkBAc5wJOOiJbFU8ACLcB/s1600/mail.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />✤✤✤✤</div></div>Charlotte Blackhttps://plus.google.com/101062532400721123197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430519442066245345.post-64006753741493353482017-05-06T20:30:00.000+01:002017-05-21T16:22:56.503+01:00Review. Defy (Defy #1) by Sara B. Larson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0545695465/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0545695465&amp;linkId=d490b739bad5e8e72fd86ec3c56f223b" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0545695465/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0545695465&amp;linkId=d490b739bad5e8e72fd86ec3c56f223b" border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TvfRVYv945A/WQ4bFY8AOnI/AAAAAAAACsw/yIFsygePdMEdenhk6rJtRE4ZncUvQc8cwCLcB/s400/Defy.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0545695465/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0545695465&amp;linkId=d490b739bad5e8e72fd86ec3c56f223b" target="_blank">Defy (Defy #1) by Sara B. Larson</a></b></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=albwormblogge-20&amp;l=am2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0316234494" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Published:</b> January 7th 2014 by Scholastic Press </div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<b>Rating</b>: 3 out of 5</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Available from: &nbsp;</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>&nbsp;</b></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0545695465/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0545695465&amp;linkId=d490b739bad5e8e72fd86ec3c56f223b" target="_blank"><img alt="Amazon" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cBN9n_YXFUQ/WPMuIbp36DI/AAAAAAAACmU/t267fGBL5xU1wPTZDw1_enJy13oBJMi4wCPcB/s1600/amazon.png" /></a><a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/Defy-Defy-Book-1-Sar-B-Larson/9780545695466?a_aid=BookwormBloggerYA" target="_blank"><img alt="Book Depository" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bSDz8VOCue8/WPSRahx90EI/AAAAAAAACmg/7l4DNQbahdMo2XaZS9gK65jCe6228sS4ACLcB/s1600/BookDepository.png" /></a><a href="http://www.tkqlhce.com/p979iqzwqyDMHGKMGNDFGHGNGFK?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%2Fw%2Fdefy-sara-b-larson%2F1115476687%3Fean%3D9780545597630&amp;cjsku=9780545597630" target="_blank"><img alt="Barnes and Noble" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DLjYTrZGvN4/WQn88hamloI/AAAAAAAACqk/lbaiWu_2HGIfG3ejVEB5gfTIsF7BTw4xgCLcB/s1600/barnes-and-noble.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Synopsis:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b></b>Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.<br /><br />The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?<br /><br /><b>&nbsp;</b> ✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a name='more'></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Review:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">There's a lot to like about <i>Defy</i>, and there's a lot of little bits that make you rethink what you've read. My overall thought was that I liked it. I liked the fantasy world, I liked Alexa and I also liked Damien, the Crown Prince, because I saw through him immediately, but once you see past the flicked pages you come to realise there isn't a challenging story here, it's an a series of events to overthrow a king.<br /><br />One of my first loves was Alanna in <i>Alanna: The First Adventure</i> by <i>Tamora Pierce</i> so I've always had a soft spot for girls dressing as boys to escape an grimmer alternative. Here, after the murder of her parents, Alexa must disguise herself as a boy to avoid being sent to the breeding houses, grim indeed. Luckily her father taught her and her twin brother, Marcel, how to wield a sword so they lie their way into the army and eventually get a place on the Princes Guard. Everyone thinks they're 20-year-old brothers but actually they're only 17. Alexa is so good at fighting she could have made Captain if not for her age.<br /><br />Prince Damien, the one they guard, is an obnoxious idiot who can't even use a sword. But after a series of events including the death of her brother, a eventful outing where Alex and Rylan meet rebels--and a jaguar--Alexa is chosen to be on guard outside the Princes room. She gets to know the Prince a little better as he confides how they are both alike, both playing their parts. Damien shows his true colours when they, along with her friend Rylan, are kidnapped. Damien is not the idle Prince they all thought he was. And the magic, who is forbidden in their kingdom, is in Alexa's veins. Can she be the one who can help Prince Damien overthrow his father, the King?<br /><br />Defy is very typically YA. In that I mean, Alexa is a great character in the beginning when no one knows she's a girl. But as soon as others discover her true self she begins to act and think very girly. Suddenly its tops off and views of torso's. Touching is very, well, touchy feely. And Rylan and the Prince both guessed she was a girl before the secret was out. About a quarter of the book shifted from the actual story to her feelings of the Prince and/or Rylan, without a thought at the horror of losing her twin brother, Marcel, and all the real horrors of the breeding houses or what's at stake.<br /><br />The other thing that didn't sit right WAS the breeding houses. I didn't get a clear indication of how long the King was in power, I'm guessing 15-20 years. But they serve a purpose, so he can breed an army. Yet the oldest kids born into this regime can't surely be old enough to even serve yet? Maybe a few. When Alexa walked the three girls to the houses in the beginning I didn't get the impression there were that many kids, apart from the man saying they only had a few rooms left. But I didn't get the idea that it was a huge house with hundreds of little army boys running around. An odd concept.<br /><br />Defy is a love story with a fantasy background. As long as you keep that in mind then the rest of the story flows nicely. As I wrote earlier I liked it, and I'm looking forward to the next one to see if Alexa is really ONLY going to be just a guard. If you've read this book you'll get what I mean :)<br /><br />Exotic, but not quite as epic as I would have liked. <br /><br />-CBx</div><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>About the Author</b></span></div><i><span id="freeTextContainerauthor6950740">Sara B. Larson is the author of the acclaimed YA fantasy DEFY, and the sequels IGNITE and ENDURE. She can’t remember a time when she didn’t write books—although she now uses a computer instead of a Little Mermaid notebook. Sara lives in Utah with her husband and their three children. She writes in brief snippets throughout the day (while mourning the demise of naptime) and the quiet hours when most people are sleeping. Her husband claims she should have a degree in “the art of multitasking.” When she’s not mothering or writing, you can often find her at the gym repenting for her sugar addiction. </span></i> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b>You can find Sara B. Larson here:</b><br /><b>&nbsp;</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sarablarson.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WL-E10LNbZA/WLaqwbLR-TI/AAAAAAAACRg/qN7mGEDQn-gSaFhs7Ss_mWWJlS08D86BwCPcB/s1600/rss.png" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6950740.Sara_B_Larson" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BtDBfny2iO8/WLAp5ur6CwI/AAAAAAAACLg/23DNFE_mEBQ4of4CcZkpBT2gMr96Zbi3wCPcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a><a href="http://www.twitter.com/SaraBLarson" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zmNRlW2poRA/WLAp6MW8gsI/AAAAAAAACLg/wVhW5DIW4dkoD3pqZS0bv_6SKEBO-c7lwCPcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hfL2HL8Nj-U/WQ4dcjvWqWI/AAAAAAAACs8/igoHfB2GGmEU_tHL5iRDbrJ3NLSzlkytgCLcB/s1600/SaraBLarson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hfL2HL8Nj-U/WQ4dcjvWqWI/AAAAAAAACs8/igoHfB2GGmEU_tHL5iRDbrJ3NLSzlkytgCLcB/s320/SaraBLarson.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤ </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><i>Follow and Like</i> to Read More <i>Bookworm Blogger #YA</i> Reviews:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; 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margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://charlottesbooks.tumblr.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iNPAc3E-gnE/WLaPgTeMsVI/AAAAAAAACQU/9pr5431hD74GV7U4s7FPXV77JWuQdhwRwCLcB/s1600/tumblr.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R5u7AjHsikg/WLAsgAqux6I/AAAAAAAACMA/V5K0xd5r1RYBLfCgD9Ab22qpPNgJFGHpACLcB/s1600/pinterest.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" target="_blank"><img alt="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Glw_DcJpyB0/WLAsf7ldGMI/AAAAAAAACL4/477mfmtG2WMl28-EyasJIbLbSURJRbRPQCLcB/s1600/google%252B.png" /></a></td><td><a href="mailto:bwormblogger@gmail.com" target="_blank"><img alt="bwormblogger@gmail.com" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d7yo6MW1sFM/WLAsf5FdGhI/AAAAAAAACL8/A3liVzPwlAUYYluvNkBAc5wJOOiJbFU8ACLcB/s1600/mail.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div>Charlotte Blackhttps://plus.google.com/101062532400721123197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430519442066245345.post-27783074221483297332017-05-06T18:47:00.001+01:002017-05-21T16:23:17.538+01:00Review: Garden of Thorns by Amber Mitchell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1682814440/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=1682814440&amp;linkId=f76b14c3a60dc27997695becbec050f0" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1682814440/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=1682814440&amp;linkId=f76b14c3a60dc27997695becbec050f0" border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D1WEIjIWhas/WQ4Hp1pZaZI/AAAAAAAACsI/JO5RI-2VRw41KoXvLqdkfu-_PEjII3psACLcB/s400/GardenRoses.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1682814440/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=1682814440&amp;linkId=f76b14c3a60dc27997695becbec050f0" target="_blank">Garden of Thorns by Amber Mitchell</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=albwormblogge-20&amp;l=am2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0316234494" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Published:</b> March 6th 2017 by Entangled Teen</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<b>Rating</b>: 4 out of 5</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Available from:<br />&nbsp;</b></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1682814440/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=1682814440&amp;linkId=f76b14c3a60dc27997695becbec050f0" target="_blank"><img alt="Amazon" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cBN9n_YXFUQ/WPMuIbp36DI/AAAAAAAACmU/t267fGBL5xU1wPTZDw1_enJy13oBJMi4wCPcB/s1600/amazon.png" /></a><a href="http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-8326829-10281551?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebooks.com%2Fcj.asp%3FIID%3D95703072&amp;cjsku=95703072" target="_blank"><img 0="" alt="eBooks.com=" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kFrWDUEgV3o/WPSRanNW-RI/AAAAAAAACmo/Hez2X7U_N0Ysjt-MxdVlnt_DX7cqeOdbACPcB/s1600/Ebooks.png" /></a><a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/Garden-of-Thorns-Amber-Mitchell/9781682814444?a_aid=BookwormBloggerYA" target="_blank"><img alt="Book Depository" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bSDz8VOCue8/WPSRahx90EI/AAAAAAAACmg/7l4DNQbahdMo2XaZS9gK65jCe6228sS4ACLcB/s1600/BookDepository.png" /></a><a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-8326829-12329216?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%2Fw%2Fgarden-of-thorns-amber-mitchell%2F1125780960%3Fean%3D9781633758483&amp;cjsku=9781633758483" target="_blank"><img alt="Barnes and Noble" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DLjYTrZGvN4/WQn88hamloI/AAAAAAAACqk/lbaiWu_2HGIfG3ejVEB5gfTIsF7BTw4xgCLcB/s1600/barnes-and-noble.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Synopsis:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">After seven grueling years of captivity in the Garden—a burlesque troupe of slave girls—sixteen-year-old Rose finds an opportunity to escape during a performance for the emperor. But the hostage she randomly chose from the crowd to aid her isn’t one of the emperor’s men—not anymore. He’s the former heir to the throne, who is now leading a rebellion against it.<br /><br />Rayce is a wanted man and dangerously charismatic, the worst person for Rose to get involved with, no matter what his smile promises. But he assumes Rose’s attempt to take him hostage is part of a plot to crush the rebellion, so he takes her as his hostage. Now Rose must prove where her loyalties lie, and she offers Rayce a deal—if he helps her rescue the other girls, she’ll tell him all the Garden’s secrets.<br /><br />Except the one secret she’s kept for seven years that she’ll take to her grave if she must.<br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a name='more'></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Review:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Garden of Thorns</i> is a really sweet novel with a backdrop of absolute horror. In a world where a travelling group of young girl dancers have to perform, the Flowers, to their other halves that have to take their punishment, the Wilteds, to Shears, the bloodhungry side-kick to the Gardener, a man who rules by fear. The imaginary world that flows with metaphors and colours is a haunting memory of times gone by. If you love the oriental-ness of <i>Crouching Tiger</i> crossed with <i>Memoirs of a Geisha</i> then you'll love this book.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">The star of the show is Rose. She's been brought up in the Garden since she was nine. Her life consists of her best Wilted friend, Fern, travelling in the back of a horrendous cart from town to town to perform. They're never allowed near the Imperial city because their kind of show is outlawed. But an invitation arrives to perform in front of the Emperor. But just as the girls get through the gates Fern begs Rose to run. She tells her, in no uncertain terms, that Rose's past is the key to bringing down the Garden. A rebellion has started, by the Emperor's nephew, Rayce. Rose must escape. Fern is killed in front of Rose. She's horrified and vows that the Gardener, Shears and all the staff will pay. Rose will bring it all crashing down and free all the Flowers.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">When Rose performs that night she unwittingly comes down into the audience and puts a knife to the throat of a guard. She can't tell who he is because everyone wears masks. They get out the tent and her hostage is revealed. Rayce, the leader of the rebellion ends up rescuing Rose and taking her (eventually) back to their base where Rose becomes aware of the full extent of the rebellion.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">They must race against the Gardenenr and the Emporer to achieve their goals. An end to the cruel Garden and the downfall of the Emporer.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Garden of Thorns was very thought provoking, fresh and an enjoyable read. The writing was clever, and the oriental charm of the outfits, the food to the weird green Zarenite created a perfect picture blend. There are some usual clichés used but I've always loved stories about lost princesses, especially with the twist used in this one.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">My only problem was the story wasn't finished. One of the key evil baddies got away, so I wonder whether there will be a follow on. I hope so!</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />-CBx</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />✤✤✤✤ </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>About the Author</b></span></div><i><span id="freeTextContainerauthor15236246">Amber Mitchell graduated from the University of South Florida with a BA in Creative Writing. She likes crazy hair styles, reading, D&amp;D, k-dramas, good puns and great food.<br /><br />When she isn’t putting words on paper, she is using cardstock to craft 3D artwork or exploring new places with her husband Brian. They live a small town in Florida with their four cats where she is still waiting for a madman in a blue box to show up on her doorstep.</span></i> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b>You can find Amber Mitchell here:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15236246.Amber_Mitchell" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BtDBfny2iO8/WLAp5ur6CwI/AAAAAAAACLg/23DNFE_mEBQ4of4CcZkpBT2gMr96Zbi3wCPcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a><a href="http://www.twitter.com/amberinblunderl" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zmNRlW2poRA/WLAp6MW8gsI/AAAAAAAACLg/wVhW5DIW4dkoD3pqZS0bv_6SKEBO-c7lwCPcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AvdQ56rDVBI/WQ4H_V-hQ0I/AAAAAAAACsM/vrX3QFYm1rUL0TSnwIFfrQx-iRLwlkVkgCLcB/s1600/AmbMitchell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AvdQ56rDVBI/WQ4H_V-hQ0I/AAAAAAAACsM/vrX3QFYm1rUL0TSnwIFfrQx-iRLwlkVkgCLcB/s1600/AmbMitchell.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Follow and Like</i> to Read More <i>Bookworm Blogger #YA</i> Reviews:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-41eldXiqbRc/WLAsflS3nGI/AAAAAAAACL0/fYRh5lclvX4zPin4F6OQ6bbazrhWi3QvQCLcB/s1600/facebook.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" target="_blank"><img alt="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xOOCPtPyonQ/WLAsgDXJXVI/AAAAAAAACME/uR-ZY0ObpxoKnKFpYPfdUYSb3Q6HtgT6wCLcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k2nSQa2WGt4/WLAsfQtt2EI/AAAAAAAACLs/i7HybLqSSNg13BTOzepYFq2xMEJkby6hgCLcB/s1600/bloglovin.png" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57CMZYE-hIA/WLAsfZw4feI/AAAAAAAACLw/rxAzqwb37scW6sSadP6csFB9oIlWTZ9eQCLcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://charlottesbooks.tumblr.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iNPAc3E-gnE/WLaPgTeMsVI/AAAAAAAACQU/9pr5431hD74GV7U4s7FPXV77JWuQdhwRwCLcB/s1600/tumblr.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R5u7AjHsikg/WLAsgAqux6I/AAAAAAAACMA/V5K0xd5r1RYBLfCgD9Ab22qpPNgJFGHpACLcB/s1600/pinterest.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" target="_blank"><img alt="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Glw_DcJpyB0/WLAsf7ldGMI/AAAAAAAACL4/477mfmtG2WMl28-EyasJIbLbSURJRbRPQCLcB/s1600/google%252B.png" /></a></td><td><a href="mailto:bwormblogger@gmail.com" target="_blank"><img alt="bwormblogger@gmail.com" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d7yo6MW1sFM/WLAsf5FdGhI/AAAAAAAACL8/A3liVzPwlAUYYluvNkBAc5wJOOiJbFU8ACLcB/s1600/mail.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div>Charlotte Blackhttps://plus.google.com/101062532400721123197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430519442066245345.post-78240390012083447982017-05-04T12:33:00.002+01:002017-05-21T16:23:38.570+01:00Review: The Mirror King (The Orphan Queen #2) by Jodi Meadows<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062317423/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0062317423&amp;linkId=b7301902cc1288f59c9557af0b4093f5" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062317423/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0062317423&amp;linkId=b7301902cc1288f59c9557af0b4093f5" border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uSh1T4r9Cx4/WQsHROyYnuI/AAAAAAAACro/ZtosI-AecY0-_ZnPLNgl_vFJBE8NYXxxgCLcB/s400/MirrorK.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062317423/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0062317423&amp;linkId=b7301902cc1288f59c9557af0b4093f5" target="_blank">The Mirror King (The Orphan Queen #2) by Jodi Meadows</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=albwormblogge-20&amp;l=am2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0316234494" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Published:</b> April 5th 2016 by Katherine Tegen Books </div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<b>Rating</b>: 3 out of 5</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Available from:<br />&nbsp;</b></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062317423/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0062317423&amp;linkId=b7301902cc1288f59c9557af0b4093f5" target="_blank"><img alt="Amazon" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cBN9n_YXFUQ/WPMuIbp36DI/AAAAAAAACmU/t267fGBL5xU1wPTZDw1_enJy13oBJMi4wCPcB/s1600/amazon.png" /></a><a href="http://www.jdoqocy.com/92102vpyvpxCLGFJLFMCEDFLEIIE?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebooks.com%2Fcj.asp%3FIID%3D2093626&amp;cjsku=2093626" target="_blank"><img 0="" alt="eBooks.com=" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kFrWDUEgV3o/WPSRanNW-RI/AAAAAAAACmo/Hez2X7U_N0Ysjt-MxdVlnt_DX7cqeOdbACPcB/s1600/Ebooks.png" /></a><a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/The-Mirror-King/9780062317414?a_aid=BookwormBloggerYA" target="_blank"><img alt="Book Depository" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bSDz8VOCue8/WPSRahx90EI/AAAAAAAACmg/7l4DNQbahdMo2XaZS9gK65jCe6228sS4ACLcB/s1600/BookDepository.png" /></a><a href="http://www.tkqlhce.com/pe122qgpmgo3C76AC6D35676D65A?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%2Fw%2Fthe-mirror-king-jodi-meadows%2F1122221474%3Fean%3D9780062317438&amp;cjsku=9780062317438" target="_blank"><img alt="Barnes and Noble" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DLjYTrZGvN4/WQn88hamloI/AAAAAAAACqk/lbaiWu_2HGIfG3ejVEB5gfTIsF7BTw4xgCLcB/s1600/barnes-and-noble.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Synopsis:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />Wilhelmina has a hundred enemies.</b><br /><br />HER FRIENDS HAVE TURNED. After her identity is revealed during the Inundation, Princess Wilhelmina is kept prisoner by the Indigo Kingdom, with the Ospreys lost somewhere in the devastated city. When the Ospreys’ leader emerges at the worst possible moment, leaving Wil’s biggest ally on his deathbed, she must become Black Knife to set things right. <br /><br />HER MAGIC IS UNCONTROLLABLE. Wil’s power is to animate, not to give true life, but in the wraithland she commanded a cloud of wraith mist to save herself, and later ordered it solid. Now there is a living boy made of wraith—destructive and deadly, and willing to do anything for her.<br /><br />HER HEART IS TORN. Though she’s ready for her crown, declaring herself queen means war. Caught between what she wants and what is right, Wilhelmina realizes the throne might not even matter. Everyone thought the wraith was years off, but already it’s destroying Indigo Kingdom villages. If she can’t protect both kingdoms, soon there won’t be a land to rule.<br /><br />In this stunning conclusion to THE ORPHAN QUEEN, Jodi Meadows follows Wilhelmina’s breathtaking and brave journey from orphaned criminal on the streets to magic-wielding queen.<br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a name='more'></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Review:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />I had high hopes for the second part of this duology. I read all the prequel novellas and really got my hopes up. But something just didn't fit right with this one. At the end of The Orphan Queen there was a whole lot of drama as the killer, Patrick, finally got to the King, almost killing him. The wraith boy is created and wants to do nothing but please Wil. And we're left intrigued...<br /><br />The Mirror King starts exactly as the last one left us. Wil is kept away from Tobiah and kept a virtual prisoner in the palace. Needless to say all the baddies dislike her even more now. All except Meredith and James.<br /><br />Wil calls in one of the younger Ospreys, Connor, who saves the king. Within minutes of his getting better the romance ramps up again. Wil is conflicted. She loved Black Knife but dislikes Tobiah. The first thing I noticed at the start is that Tobiah starts acting normally. He isn't so solemn or aloof as he was in the previous book. Proving he can be one person to Wil.<br /><br />Everything is set for the wedding between Tobiah and Meredith. He's still going ahead with it even after his life-and-death experience. What no one thinks about is the wraith boy. At the behest of 'someone' who talked to him through a door telling him his Queen was unhappy, the wraith boy escapes and kills Meredith at the altar. Sadly, Wil must leave the palace now and when Prince Colin announces he's leaving to go back to Aecor Wil joins him.<br /><br />Wil tells the rest of the Ospreys they must stay, they can't return with her yet. After a long journey where the only people she really trusts is James and her friend Rees, they arrive at the border. But Patrick's Red Militia is waiting. Wil declares herself Queen to avoid Prince Colins death and so....Wil must start acting as her title dictates and start ruling. But things don't go well for from the start. Riots flush through the city along with the Red Militia causing trouble. Wil must pick up the pieces of the broken city knowing the wraith will soon be on her doorstep and the final battle will take more from her than she can possibly imagine.<br /><br />I have a few questions about this part of the story. Firstly, Prince Colin's role. Surely Tobiah could have transferred over Aecor to Wil before she left. Colin is the Overlord, not ruler and Tobiah is King. To me this was a massive hole in the story and either proved Tobiah is a weak king who has the wrong advisors or Colin had something over Tobiah from the start.<br /><br />Patrick's story arc annoyed me as well. He wanted Wil to be Queen and he wanted to rule beside her. He got one wish so why was he stirring up trouble knowing the wraith was on its way. Why did he have to make everything so difficult. Even in the final hours when he was in prison, the actions his army took didn't make sense. He would rather see Aecor reduced to rubble so he could sit on a throne with Wil? And rule over what? A pile of ash?<br /><br />The wraith boy was almost an unused plot line. Why did Wil keep him in a cupboard instead of getting used to him and learning more about what he could do for her? Apart from the finalé the author rendered him as a prop and nothing more. <br /><br />The last quarter felt rushed. The James twist was an okay one. Tobiah's revelation, again, didn't fit well. So he had enough magic to recreate the broken bridge. Why didn't he use it when he was Black Knife and help the Flags. No one would have seen him. Why didn't he do more? And if he had that power why didn't he know the cathedral was about to fall apart and fix it before the ceiling fell in?<br /><br />Overall, it was a nice read and nice bit of romance but the whole mystery and conclusion of the wraith was never really solved. I would have liked to have had a sense of closure rather than wondering what would happen next.<br /><br /><br />-CBx</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />✤✤✤✤ </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>About the Author</b></span></div><i>Jodi Meadows wants to be a ferret when she grows up and she has no self-control when it comes to yarn, ink, or outer space. Still, she manages to write books. She is the author of the INCARNATE Trilogy, the ORPHAN QUEEN Duology, and the FALLEN ISLES Trilogy (HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen), and a coauthor of MY LADY JANE (HarperTeen).</i> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b>You can find Jodi Meadows here:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.jodimeadows.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WL-E10LNbZA/WLaqwbLR-TI/AAAAAAAACRg/qN7mGEDQn-gSaFhs7Ss_mWWJlS08D86BwCPcB/s1600/rss.png" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4116488.Jodi_Meadows" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BtDBfny2iO8/WLAp5ur6CwI/AAAAAAAACLg/23DNFE_mEBQ4of4CcZkpBT2gMr96Zbi3wCPcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a><a href="https://twitter.com/jodimeadows" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zmNRlW2poRA/WLAp6MW8gsI/AAAAAAAACLg/wVhW5DIW4dkoD3pqZS0bv_6SKEBO-c7lwCPcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1n_U5-OpgF0/WP_WGsAV0-I/AAAAAAAACpk/qKd2jDdDdTEVyOfYAnwwk1D9QV_MOz8XwCLcB/s1600/JodiMeadows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1n_U5-OpgF0/WP_WGsAV0-I/AAAAAAAACpk/qKd2jDdDdTEVyOfYAnwwk1D9QV_MOz8XwCLcB/s1600/JodiMeadows.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Follow and Like</i> to Read More <i>Bookworm Blogger #YA</i> Reviews:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-41eldXiqbRc/WLAsflS3nGI/AAAAAAAACL0/fYRh5lclvX4zPin4F6OQ6bbazrhWi3QvQCLcB/s1600/facebook.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" target="_blank"><img alt="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xOOCPtPyonQ/WLAsgDXJXVI/AAAAAAAACME/uR-ZY0ObpxoKnKFpYPfdUYSb3Q6HtgT6wCLcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k2nSQa2WGt4/WLAsfQtt2EI/AAAAAAAACLs/i7HybLqSSNg13BTOzepYFq2xMEJkby6hgCLcB/s1600/bloglovin.png" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57CMZYE-hIA/WLAsfZw4feI/AAAAAAAACLw/rxAzqwb37scW6sSadP6csFB9oIlWTZ9eQCLcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://charlottesbooks.tumblr.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iNPAc3E-gnE/WLaPgTeMsVI/AAAAAAAACQU/9pr5431hD74GV7U4s7FPXV77JWuQdhwRwCLcB/s1600/tumblr.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R5u7AjHsikg/WLAsgAqux6I/AAAAAAAACMA/V5K0xd5r1RYBLfCgD9Ab22qpPNgJFGHpACLcB/s1600/pinterest.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" target="_blank"><img alt="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Glw_DcJpyB0/WLAsf7ldGMI/AAAAAAAACL4/477mfmtG2WMl28-EyasJIbLbSURJRbRPQCLcB/s1600/google%252B.png" /></a></td><td><a href="mailto:bwormblogger@gmail.com" target="_blank"><img alt="bwormblogger@gmail.com" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d7yo6MW1sFM/WLAsf5FdGhI/AAAAAAAACL8/A3liVzPwlAUYYluvNkBAc5wJOOiJbFU8ACLcB/s1600/mail.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div>Charlotte Blackhttps://plus.google.com/101062532400721123197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430519442066245345.post-84777300686975960662017-05-04T11:22:00.001+01:002017-05-04T11:22:36.282+01:00*Book Blitz* & Author Q&A - Toonopolis: Gemini (Toonopolis Files #1) by Jeremy Rodden<div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PjpxwI4X-b8/WQr0yhSeuCI/AAAAAAAACq0/iSsrKPDJ1YQhxB4m0cKUBAS3KPl1pXdrwCLcB/s400/Toonopolis.jpg" width="273" /></div><h2><b>Toonopolis: Gemini</b><br /><b>(Toonopolis Files #1)</b></h2><h3><b>by Jeremy Rodden</b></h3><div><b>Publisher:</b> Portmanteau Press, LLC</div><div><b>Date of Publishing:</b> May 30, 2011</div><div><b>Genre:</b> Fantasy</div><div><b>Suggested Ages:</b> 10+</div><i><br /></i> <i>Toonopolis is a cartoon city that is home to the thoughts and ideas of all sentient beings in the universe. As the center of the Tooniverse, it acts as an other-worldly rest stop for these creations.</i><br /><i><br /></i> <i>Gemini is a teenage human boy who is thrust into Toonopolis through his father's scientific research program. He loses part of himself in the process and immediately begins a quest to regain his lost memories with the help of his Tooniverse guide named Jimbob the Talking Eggplant. </i><br /><i><br /></i> <i>After an altercation with a mysterious Shadowy Figure, Gemini's mission is changed, and he begins a new quest to defeat Shadowy Figure and protect Toonopolis from his nefarious destruction. Along the way, he meets new friends, discovers just how diverse and strange Toonopolis is, and learns lessons about compassion, forgiveness, redemption, and being true to oneself.</i><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Book Trailer</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IFmG7zZ8DOg/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IFmG7zZ8DOg?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Read More:</b></div><div class="column"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11365223-toonopolis" target="_blank"><img alt="Goodreads" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GxCjjUEATuM/WLAYL9FsTMI/AAAAAAAACKk/PXU1yXP6aQUH3faZzOca4XLXZSXNogc5gCPcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0050P3YXA/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B0050P3YXA&amp;linkId=d1aeae602612d078852f8f93bbe8fd08" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0050P3YXA/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B0050P3YXA&amp;linkId=d1aeae602612d078852f8f93bbe8fd08" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V7vDRCSo-Oo/WLAYLVV5jiI/AAAAAAAACKk/RMtNCa6Ark4Y3NQ0LItazDZkvN7Dy6nYgCPcB/s1600/amazon.png" /></a><a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/qd122uoxuowBKFEIKELBDDKDDHLJ?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%2Fw%2Ftoonopolis-jeremy-rodden%2F1101314250%3Fean%3D9780983425397&amp;cjsku=9780983425397" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.kqzyfj.com/qd122uoxuowBKFEIKELBDDKDDHLJ?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%2Fw%2Ftoonopolis-jeremy-rodden%2F1101314250%3Fean%3D9780983425397&amp;cjsku=9780983425397" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JxWtVnGXxU4/WLAYLjwYsrI/AAAAAAAACKk/LzDQL6wSUSA-s47jHr0LZKyL0ifZ1WUJQCPcB/s1600/barnes-and-noble.png" /></a><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/toonopolis-gemini" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/toonopolis-gemini" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pFkYpOq89iw/WQr7k3IUaUI/AAAAAAAACrE/r7RZ_MiWq0s7JlHxlZWc9xB26HjkPuANACLcB/s1600/kobo.png" /></a></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Meet the Author Q&amp;A - Jeremy Rodden</u></b></span></h3><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-05zUm0lH8Po/WQr8Tw4fzNI/AAAAAAAACrM/lNjG0YexVJU_UkGKyDUPfjg-xO8irw5SgCLcB/s1600/JRodden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-05zUm0lH8Po/WQr8Tw4fzNI/AAAAAAAACrM/lNjG0YexVJU_UkGKyDUPfjg-xO8irw5SgCLcB/s1600/JRodden.jpg" /></a></div><span class="im"></span><br /><b>What made you want to to write books?</b><br />I've always been a fan of reading and writing. The one book that really made me want to be an author was Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary (a little less well-known than her Ramona books, which are also fantastic). In the story, a young boy writes letters back and forth with his favorite author. I envisioned myself as the boy but also knew I wanted to be more like Mr. Henshaw, an author, when I grew up.</div><div class="column"><br /><b>Where does your inspiration come from?</b></div><div class="column">The wonderful thing about creating an "other" world like Toonopolis is that I can pull from a plethora of inspirations. Toonopolis is inspired by cartoons, of course, (especially some of the great sardonic cartoons of the 90s like Animaniacs and Tiny Toon Adventures), but also comic books, role-playing games, fantasy stories and more. Each section of Toonopolis has a theme to it (Supercity for superheroes, Camenot for Arthurian/epic fantasy, even Romantica for romance-themed creations), so I am able to pull from virtually any source I want for my stories!<br /><br /><b>How long have you been writing?</b><br />I have been writing for as long as I can remember. I wrote bad poetry and heavy-handed short stories through my broody middle school years and continued well through high school creating stories and characters. In fact, Toonopolis was first created in high school as an interactive fiction game with friends (and a lot of online strangers who became friends over the years). As a teenager, I participated first in online competitive writing games centered around professional wrestling (called e-federations). I wasn't a big wrestling fan, but it was an outlet that allowed to create characters and write for a closed audience in a competitive environment. It was quite a great springboard for me in my teenage years.<br /><b><br />What's your daily routine?</b><br />I wake up around 6am (7am is sleeping in for me) to begin caring for my children. My youngest son will be 2 in June so I still have baby-level care to deal with. My two elder sons are in school so it's all about waking them up, getting them fed and dressed, and dropping them at school. Then my glamorous life as a homemaker leads to laundry or housecleaning or food shopping or going to the gym. My only "free" time comes in the form of a mid-day nap wherein I try to finally get some writing done! By the afternoon it's time to get the boys from school, work on homework, then dinner, then bed. In the evening I get my next "free" time to try to write (if I am not so mentally exhausted that I just fire up a video game or TV show). Rinse and repeat for a few years and you have the fantastic life of a stay-at-home dad trying to also be a writer.<br /><br /><b>How long does it take you to write a book - From the first word to completion?</b><br />This is a tricky question. I wrote the first draft of this particular book, the first in my series, in about three months in 2010. By all accounts, this is pretty fast for a first draft (especially when you are a stay at home parent of two little boys). The process of editing and preparing for publishing (with a three-month stint of pitching my completed manuscript for agents and publishers) took about six months. I wrote a follow-up/spin-off novella for a character named Anchihiiroo in my first book in about a month in 2011 and it took a good two months or so to prep that for publishing. The sequel to Gemini (Chi Lin) has taken far longer due to life and sidetracks but will have taken nearly six years from conception (initial outline) to completion (final publishing-ready product).<br /><br /><b>What do you do in your spare time?</b><br />What's this "spare time" you speak of? With three boys at home and a house to run, I find it hard to find "spare time". In what little I can squeeze out, though, I do a lot of reading (audiobooks were a great discovery for me a few years ago), some TV watching (not a ton, but some), some video game playing (a lot of Overwatch and Heroes of the Storm at the moment), and I play softball as my "get out of the house" activity. I also volunteer in my local community as a CASA volunteer and as an instructor in a workplace readiness program for teens on probation for minor offenses.<br /><br /><b>TV shows - what's your favourite, past and present?</b><br />Oh that is quite hard. I went through a long stretch of time where I barely watched any TV (my poor college years when I couldn't afford cable and had to work full-time and then had my first child at 24 years old). As life has stabilized, I've found time for some shows. As for current TV, I enjoy Doctor Who (ninth doctor was my first), the CW DC superhero shows (Arrow, Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl), and some of the great adult-oriented animated shows like Bob's Burgers, Archer, and Rick &amp; Morty. <br /><br /><b>Do you have any future projects you're working on? </b><br />My primary focus is continuing the Toonopolis adventure for Gemini and Jimbob the Talking Eggplant that picks up where the Gemini story left off. Chi Lin is a real world unicorn who transports himself and his maiden (a 12th century Indian girl named Avantika) to the Tooniverse to escape death. The main antagonist of the series, Agent Mimic of The Agency, has hatched a plan to control Chi Lin and use his magical powers to cause destruction in Toonopolis and, by extension, the Real World. I expect this work to be published by late fall/winter of 2017. I have an unrelated urban fantasy series for a New Adult audience called War of the Forgotten that is also tumbling around in my brain. It is about modern-day pagans (Wiccans) and deals with more adult themes such as polyamory, cultural acceptance, and being a 20-something year old in a city environment (Philadelphia). This series has been brewing a long time and I've written one chapter of the first book but Toonopolis takes priority for now.</div><div class="column"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Follow Jeremy Here:</b></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4689769.Jeremy_Rodden" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57CMZYE-hIA/WLAsfZw4feI/AAAAAAAACLw/rxAzqwb37scW6sSadP6csFB9oIlWTZ9eQCLcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a><a href="http://www.twitter.com/toonopolis" target="_blank"><img alt="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xOOCPtPyonQ/WLAsgDXJXVI/AAAAAAAACME/uR-ZY0ObpxoKnKFpYPfdUYSb3Q6HtgT6wCLcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a><a href="http://www.toonopolis.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.toonopolis.com/" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H1vQHFtyqeY/WQr-I-FpV8I/AAAAAAAACrY/zkBJCTUBL0IfvxenIqHLWdwtwlB6VM_uQCLcB/s1600/rss.png" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Follow and Like</i> to Read More News and <i>Bookworm Blogger #YA</i> Reviews:</b></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-41eldXiqbRc/WLAsflS3nGI/AAAAAAAACL0/fYRh5lclvX4zPin4F6OQ6bbazrhWi3QvQCLcB/s1600/facebook.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" target="_blank"><img alt="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xOOCPtPyonQ/WLAsgDXJXVI/AAAAAAAACME/uR-ZY0ObpxoKnKFpYPfdUYSb3Q6HtgT6wCLcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k2nSQa2WGt4/WLAsfQtt2EI/AAAAAAAACLs/i7HybLqSSNg13BTOzepYFq2xMEJkby6hgCLcB/s1600/bloglovin.png" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57CMZYE-hIA/WLAsfZw4feI/AAAAAAAACLw/rxAzqwb37scW6sSadP6csFB9oIlWTZ9eQCLcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://charlottesbooks.tumblr.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iNPAc3E-gnE/WLaPgTeMsVI/AAAAAAAACQU/9pr5431hD74GV7U4s7FPXV77JWuQdhwRwCLcB/s1600/tumblr.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R5u7AjHsikg/WLAsgAqux6I/AAAAAAAACMA/V5K0xd5r1RYBLfCgD9Ab22qpPNgJFGHpACLcB/s1600/pinterest.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" target="_blank"><img alt="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Glw_DcJpyB0/WLAsf7ldGMI/AAAAAAAACL4/477mfmtG2WMl28-EyasJIbLbSURJRbRPQCLcB/s1600/google%252B.png" /></a></td><td><a href="mailto:bwormblogger@gmail.com" target="_blank"><img alt="bwormblogger@gmail.com" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d7yo6MW1sFM/WLAsf5FdGhI/AAAAAAAACL8/A3liVzPwlAUYYluvNkBAc5wJOOiJbFU8ACLcB/s1600/mail.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Charlotte Blackhttps://plus.google.com/101062532400721123197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430519442066245345.post-79964732805173052662017-05-03T18:47:00.000+01:002017-05-21T16:24:01.594+01:00Review: A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses #3) by Sarah J. Maas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1619634481/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=1619634481&amp;linkId=0b4f0dfc2c3e39fae4b74464fd8801e9" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1619634481/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=1619634481&amp;linkId=0b4f0dfc2c3e39fae4b74464fd8801e9" border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZQ7Wv6dvA98/WQn8QdEzSBI/AAAAAAAACqc/41W1IEJ0AAAWBOE6zOo4LNKmJYcZlyDcwCLcB/s400/WingsRuin.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1250074126/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=1250074126&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;linkId=70a5ff6b1b941fb8c4374cb5b0f42aab" target="_blank"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1619634481/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=1619634481&amp;linkId=0b4f0dfc2c3e39fae4b74464fd8801e9" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1619634481/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=1619634481&amp;linkId=e62acd1d31bcab7c517384c37c881826" target="_blank">A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses #3) by Sarah J. Maas</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=albwormblogge-20&amp;l=am2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0316234494" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Published:</b> May 2nd 2017 by Bloomsbury Childrens Books<br /><b>Rating</b>: 4 out of 5 </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />&nbsp;✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Available from:</b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1619634481/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=1619634481&amp;linkId=0b4f0dfc2c3e39fae4b74464fd8801e9" target="_blank"><img alt="Amazon" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cBN9n_YXFUQ/WPMuIbp36DI/AAAAAAAACmU/t267fGBL5xU1wPTZDw1_enJy13oBJMi4wCPcB/s1600/amazon.png" /></a><a href="http://www.jdoqocy.com/m1116ar-xrzENIHLNHOEGFHNGKKG?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebooks.com%2Fcj.asp%3FIID%3D95757224&amp;cjsku=95757224" target="_blank"><img 0="" alt="eBooks.com=" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kFrWDUEgV3o/WPSRanNW-RI/AAAAAAAACmo/Hez2X7U_N0Ysjt-MxdVlnt_DX7cqeOdbACPcB/s1600/Ebooks.png" /></a><a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/Court-Wings-Ruin-Sarah-J-Maas/9781408857908?a_aid=BookwormBloggerYA" target="_blank"><img alt="Book Depository" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bSDz8VOCue8/WPSRahx90EI/AAAAAAAACmg/7l4DNQbahdMo2XaZS9gK65jCe6228sS4ACLcB/s1600/BookDepository.png" /></a><a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/li122ox52x4KTONRTNUKMNONUNMR?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%2Fw%2Fa-court-of-wings-and-ruin-sarah-j-maas%2F1125299079%3Fean%3D9781619634497&amp;cjsku=9781619634497" target="_blank"><img alt="Barnes and Noble" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DLjYTrZGvN4/WQn88hamloI/AAAAAAAACqk/lbaiWu_2HGIfG3ejVEB5gfTIsF7BTw4xgCLcB/s1600/barnes-and-noble.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Synopsis:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div id="iframeContent">Feyre has returned to the Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin's maneuverings and the invading king threatening to bring Prythian to its knees. But to do so she must play a deadly game of deceit-and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but for her world as well.<br />As war bears down upon them all, Feyre must decide who to trust amongst the dazzling and lethal High Lords-and hunt for allies in unexpected places. <br />In this thrilling third book in the #1 <i>New York Times </i>and <i>USA Today </i>bestselling series from Sarah J. Maas, the earth will be painted red as mighty armies grapple for power over the one thing that could destroy them all.</div><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a name='more'></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Review:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">There are a lot of conflicting reviews flying around about this book so without further ado, I'll throw my review to the bag. This might be a long one!<br /><br /><b><u>YES! THERE MAY BE SPOILERS - IT'S A REVIEW! </u></b><br /><br />Feyre is doing what she can to upset the Spring court. She's learning what she can from Ianthe, Lucien and Tamlin, who's now (almost) freely giving her knowledge of the Hybern contingent. Within days they have visitors. Jurian and the nephew and niece of the King of Hybern arrive. They want information about the wall, which, if you remember, can only be brought down by the magic of the cauldron. Feyre and Lucien escort them on several occasions to the holes previously made, to find out if they're weak spots. Several things happen during this time - Feyre's headaches because she's using a lot of magic, Feyre's closeness to Lucien, and we learn how despicable the nephew and niece are. Feyre also works to undermine Tamlin's hold over his own troops as well as Ianthe's credibility as priestess.<br /><br />One thing leads to another and Feyre escapes. Lucien, thanks to his magic eye, has guessed that Feyre isn't staying and insists he comes too. He wants to see Elain. But those headaches Feyre's been having are the result of faebane, a drug which dampens magical abilities. Feyre and Lucien have to escape the hard way. On foot. They come close to being captured but eventually get rescued by Cassian and Azriel.<br /><br />Back at the Night Court, Feyre learns that her sisters have changed. They've developed their own mystical abilities. Nesta, the sour, not so kind sister, has an even more edgy side to her. Elain simply spouts nonsense. Elain is also not recovering as much as Feyre would like.<br /><br />With the old gang from the previous book Feyre and Rhys start plotting against Hybern knowing that Spring court has now fallen apart thanks to Feyre's undoing.<br /><br />The book flips back and forth from the top of the island to the bottom, then back into the middle then sideways and so on. Alliances are made, destroyed, and amicable hatred swarms the other courts. The depth of the High Lords conflict or alliance is written well. Needless to say there's a lot of story happening during these times, maybe a little too much, but it does fill in all the gaps and create a solid building block for future stories.<br /><br />Feyre, I think, is the most changed in all of this. At the end of Mist and Fury she proves she's powerful. At the end of this book I don't think anyone rivals her, not even Rhys. Yes, he's got his tricks of the trade going on which she'll no doubt learn over time but if there was any future story then Feyre would probably be Queen of Prythia. <br /><br /><i>A Court of Wings and Ruin</i> is another long book. If you're thinking all the characters are in play at the end of <i>A Court of Mist and Fury</i> then you'll have to reassess that. They aren't big, main character parts but the names are something you have to remember and with so many similar sounding names (i.e. the High Lords) it does get a little confusing at times.<br /><br />The Drakon, Miryam, Jurian triangle plays a part in this too. One thing you'll find with this book is you do end up reading more 'little stories' inside this big one. I think I counted three but there may have been more. Little moral talesare fine but they did go on a bit and I did skim.<br /><br />The High Lords came across as weaker in stature than I expected. I liked Tarquin in the ACOMAF, but some of the other High Lords just came across as flaky. Not as big or an imposing threat to Hybern or anyone. Maybe that's why Rhys and his court come across as being so powerful. We know Rhys IS the most powerful High Lord ever, and Feyre comes up in the standards of gift abilities. <br /><br />&nbsp;I was disappointed with the 'bond' lore of this book. Tamlin doesn't have a big part in this story. He's portrayed more as a brooding, singular guy who has nothing to do with his spare time that be gloomy about losing Feyre. His attitude at the alliance meeting was just plain nasty, and also a little immature. I would have liked to learn he'd found a 'bond' with someone and had a happy ending. Also unresolved is Lucien and Elain's story, although she does sort of warm to him towards the end.(Future story#1? Also, Lucien's heritage was brought up and left hanging.)<br /><br />Amren's little gig at the end was a nice closure but it left me thinking about the other 'creature' characters. The bone carver, the weaver and a new being come back into the story, some have endings and some don't. But it still didn't answer any questions about this 'rip' that happened between worlds a few thousand years ago. Could the cauldron have been un-made a previous time and caused the rip? If so, did any 'nasties' get through this time?<br /><br />Same-sex relationships seem to be the order of the day too. With a surprising twist at the end for Mor, and subsequent lack of closure for Azriel (Future story #2? and include into that Nesta and Cassian which also develops but nothing 'wow' happened except for a small kiss before Nesta, before she, once again, shuns everyone.)<br /><br />To bring everything together (and I've tried to write this without too many spoilers) I would say it's a good ending to the series of Feyre and Rhys. It isn't a great ending. There are still lots of unresolved issued and I've only picked out a few. If the first book was the scene setting and Feyre's transformation, and the second book was the love story, then this one is the battle--there's a lot of battle-- and closing off of the story. In my honest opinion this series could have continued to four book and I think I'd have preferred that to see the outcome to all the main characters rather than leave them all mid flight. After finishing I also didn't have that 'wow' factor as I did at the end of book 2. I think some people will be disappointed.<br /><br />There are more stories to come and maybe that's Ms Maas's trick, to keep us all guessing!<br /><br />-CBx</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />✤✤✤✤ </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>About the Author </b></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Sarah J. Maas is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Throne of Glass series and A Court of Thorns and Roses series, as well as a USA Today and international bestselling author. Sarah wrote the first incarnation of the Throne of Glass series when she was just sixteen, and it has now sold in thirty-five languages. A New York native, Sarah currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and dog. <br /><br />She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Hamilton College in 2008 with a degree in Creative Writing and a minor in Religious Studies.</span></i></blockquote><i>In 2018, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. has partnered with Random House Books for Young Readers to bring some of the most iconic comic book characters to life in the form of YA novels. Sarah will be writing <a href="http://mashable.com/2016/03/31/superhero-ya-dc/#1g.OFqtOaPqt" target="_blank">Catwoman.</a></i> <br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><b>You can find Sarah J. Maas here:</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sarahjmaas.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WL-E10LNbZA/WLaqwbLR-TI/AAAAAAAACRg/qN7mGEDQn-gSaFhs7Ss_mWWJlS08D86BwCPcB/s1600/rss.png" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3433047.Sarah_J_Maas" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BtDBfny2iO8/WLAp5ur6CwI/AAAAAAAACLg/23DNFE_mEBQ4of4CcZkpBT2gMr96Zbi3wCPcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a><a href="http://www.twitter.com/SJMaas" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zmNRlW2poRA/WLAp6MW8gsI/AAAAAAAACLg/wVhW5DIW4dkoD3pqZS0bv_6SKEBO-c7lwCPcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/140885788X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1634&amp;creative=6738&amp;creativeASIN=140885788X&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=neverleavethe-21" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1408857863/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1634&amp;creative=6738&amp;creativeASIN=1408857863&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=neverleavethe-21" border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CA_NARCvM8g/WJL0jjkM8sI/AAAAAAAAB94/HVwZ3y1xqDg_CLiy759cPQLULeWJmxokACLcB/s320/SJM.jpg" width="152" /></a></div><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Follow and Like</i> to Read More <i>Bookworm Blogger #YA</i> Reviews:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-41eldXiqbRc/WLAsflS3nGI/AAAAAAAACL0/fYRh5lclvX4zPin4F6OQ6bbazrhWi3QvQCLcB/s1600/facebook.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" target="_blank"><img alt="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xOOCPtPyonQ/WLAsgDXJXVI/AAAAAAAACME/uR-ZY0ObpxoKnKFpYPfdUYSb3Q6HtgT6wCLcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k2nSQa2WGt4/WLAsfQtt2EI/AAAAAAAACLs/i7HybLqSSNg13BTOzepYFq2xMEJkby6hgCLcB/s1600/bloglovin.png" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57CMZYE-hIA/WLAsfZw4feI/AAAAAAAACLw/rxAzqwb37scW6sSadP6csFB9oIlWTZ9eQCLcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062317393/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0062317393&amp;linkId=d0a2e1cab5f2dbc1077fb124ca703255" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062317393/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0062317393&amp;linkId=d0a2e1cab5f2dbc1077fb124ca703255" border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5USSbevPJmA/WP_Tk-RVQBI/AAAAAAAACpY/d07Zlg7Mrzc-moV6n6QANsxQPMmLhotIQCLcB/s400/Orphan.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062317393/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0062317393&amp;linkId=d0a2e1cab5f2dbc1077fb124ca703255" target="_blank">The Orphan Queen (The Orphan Queen #1) by Jodi Meadows</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=albwormblogge-20&amp;l=am2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0316234494" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Published:</b> March 10th 2015 by Katherine Tegen Books </div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<b>Rating</b>: 4 out of 5</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Available from:</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>&nbsp;</b></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062317393/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=albwormblogge-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0062317393&amp;linkId=d0a2e1cab5f2dbc1077fb124ca703255" target="_blank"><img alt="Amazon" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cBN9n_YXFUQ/WPMuIbp36DI/AAAAAAAACmU/t267fGBL5xU1wPTZDw1_enJy13oBJMi4wCPcB/s1600/amazon.png" /></a><a href="http://www.jdoqocy.com/2k77efolfn2B659B5C2435B4884?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebooks.com%2Fcj.asp%3FIID%3D1712621&amp;cjsku=1712621" target="_blank"><img 0="" alt="eBooks.com=" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kFrWDUEgV3o/WPSRanNW-RI/AAAAAAAACmo/Hez2X7U_N0Ysjt-MxdVlnt_DX7cqeOdbACPcB/s1600/Ebooks.png" /></a><a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/The-Orphan-Queen/9780062317384?a_aid=BookwormBloggerYA" target="_blank"><img alt="Book Depository" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bSDz8VOCue8/WPSRahx90EI/AAAAAAAACmg/7l4DNQbahdMo2XaZS9gK65jCe6228sS4ACLcB/s1600/BookDepository.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Synopsis:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span id="freeText4020717601411398295"><b>Wilhelmina has a hundred identities.</b><br /><br /><i>She is a princess.</i> When the Indigo Kingdom conquered her homeland, Wilhelmina and other orphaned children of nobility were taken to Skyvale, the Indigo Kingdom’s capital. Ten years later, they are the Ospreys, experts at stealth and theft. With them, Wilhelmina means to take back her throne.<br /><br /><i>She is a spy.</i> Wil and her best friend, Melanie, infiltrate Skyvale Palace to study their foes. They assume the identities of nobles from a wraith-fallen kingdom, but enemies fill the palace, and Melanie’s behavior grows suspicious. With Osprey missions becoming increasingly dangerous and their leader more unstable, Wil can’t trust anyone.<br /><br /><i>She is a threat.</i> Wraith is the toxic by-product of magic, and for a century using magic has been forbidden. Still the wraith pours across the continent, reshaping the land and animals into fresh horrors. Soon it will reach the Indigo Kingdom. Wilhelmina’s magic might be the key to stopping the wraith, but if the vigilante Black Knife discovers Wil’s magic, she will vanish like all the others.<br /><br />Jodi Meadows introduces a vivid new fantasy full of intrigue, romance, dangerous magic, and one girl’s battle to reclaim her place in the world.</span><br /><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a name='more'></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Review:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />I read this book ages ago and never got around to review it. I've recently started reading the prequel novellas to this series so I'm finally adding this review!<br /><br />I do love stories about lost princesses. I think that's what drew me to Jodi Meadows <i>Orphan Queen</i> to begin with. I read her Incarnate series and wasn't that keen on it but this duology has an incredible story attached to its scenery. I read an article Jodi wrote about worldbuilding and that's something that strikes you with this book. The building is very well thought out right down to every characters antics and how to spot a thief!<br /><br />Wilhelmina (I'm English so I'm pronouncing this Wil-er-mina) takes orders from Patrick. He's the leader of the Ospreys, a small group of noble children now orphans. Wil has always followed Patrick's lead. not only is he the oldest but he's also the son of General Lien, the head of the Aecor Army before the Kingdom was invaded. Naturally, he's a good leader, having taken cues from his father, but he's also collected a series of not so good antics from dear deceased Dad.<br /><br />Wil follows the plan set down by Patrick. Her and Mel will infiltrate Skyvale Palace impersonating a Duchess and her companion. Thanks to Wil's exceptional forgery skills they get taken in by the Palace household using the right papers and are treated as per their assumed rank. They perform for their noble peers, acting their parts to perfection. They also have to send reports at the dead of night to a dead drop. Mel takes on this task but soon Wil notices she doesn't return until dawn. One night she follows Mel and meets an unexpected ally. Black Knife is notorious. He fights the users (shiners) of magic, and attacks the wild wraith beasts that appear in the city. He's a hero in everyone's eyes, except his vigilante status means he has to work in the dark, where no one can see him. He follows Wil one night. She's following Mel. It makes for an unlikely alliance but one advantageous to Wil and outside of Patrick's control. Black Knife and Wil are drawn to one another but she never sees his face. Who can he be?<br /><br />Meanwhile, at the palace Wil becomes good friends with Crown Prince Tobiah's bodyguard, James. He's nice and funny and always makes her feel at ease. So different from the sullen, bored demeanour of the Crown Prince. It's a shame for Wil because she remembers him as a little boy when General Lien kidnapped him. At seven years old she freed him only to realise her home and Kingdom were being destroyed. He stayed with her and offered her comfort but from that day on she's always wondered what he would be like now. Nothing like the arrogant boy he's turned out to be.<br /><br />Magic is forbidden in the Indigo Kingdom. A Wraith Alliance was forged with neighbouring kingdoms once it was agreed that used magic created the wraith in the first place. Wil manages to get onto a committee at the palace to learn more but unfortunately she's kicked off soon after because the men believe it upsets her. What she doesn't agree with is that some of the men fob her off when she asks the most important questions like, What's at the lake in Liadia? Why will no one tell her the truth? Do they even know what they're fighting?<br /><br />Wil takes matters into her own hands and discovers she may be at the heart of the whole problem.<br /><br />So, lots of worldbuilding. That's one of things I enjoy most about YA Fantasy. Some authors get it absolutely dead on. There are a few little things about Orphan Queen that I didn't like. Firstly, the names. Why go to all the trouble and then call your characters Clint, Eric and other (mainly American) names. They're almost out of place.<br />Secondly, throughout the book, Wil's narrative consists of action/reaction. So much that it was almost overkill. Yes, her Kingdom and it's people are suffering which is why she's doing what she does but she repeats the horrors and hardship again and again after every sentence. Thirdly was the synopsis - <i>'<span id="freeText4020717601411398295">Wilhelmina has a hundred identities.' </span></i><span id="freeText4020717601411398295">She doesn't</span><span id="freeText4020717601411398295">. I think this was misleading. She can forge anyone's handwriting once she's seen it but only assumes three identities in the story. </span><i><span id="freeText4020717601411398295"><br /></span></i><br /><br />At the heart of this story is her relationship with the mysterious vigilante Black Knife. Their interaction was one of the best parts of the story. I was surprised when he revealed himself and sad with the aftermath. Wil proves she's a capable warrior and Queen. And the book ends with a cliffhanger. Brilliant!<br /><br />This was a clever and vivid start. It's a shame it's only a duology but there are the prequels too so hopefully we shall learn more about Black Knife and his past.<br /><br />-CBx</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />✤✤✤✤ </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>About the Author</b></span></div><i>Jodi Meadows wants to be a ferret when she grows up and she has no self-control when it comes to yarn, ink, or outer space. Still, she manages to write books. She is the author of the INCARNATE Trilogy, the ORPHAN QUEEN Duology, and the FALLEN ISLES Trilogy (HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen), and a coauthor of MY LADY JANE (HarperTeen).</i><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b>You can find Jodi Meadows here:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.jodimeadows.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WL-E10LNbZA/WLaqwbLR-TI/AAAAAAAACRg/qN7mGEDQn-gSaFhs7Ss_mWWJlS08D86BwCPcB/s1600/rss.png" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4116488.Jodi_Meadows" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BtDBfny2iO8/WLAp5ur6CwI/AAAAAAAACLg/23DNFE_mEBQ4of4CcZkpBT2gMr96Zbi3wCPcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a><a href="https://twitter.com/jodimeadows" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zmNRlW2poRA/WLAp6MW8gsI/AAAAAAAACLg/wVhW5DIW4dkoD3pqZS0bv_6SKEBO-c7lwCPcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1n_U5-OpgF0/WP_WGsAV0-I/AAAAAAAACpk/qKd2jDdDdTEVyOfYAnwwk1D9QV_MOz8XwCLcB/s1600/JodiMeadows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1n_U5-OpgF0/WP_WGsAV0-I/AAAAAAAACpk/qKd2jDdDdTEVyOfYAnwwk1D9QV_MOz8XwCLcB/s1600/JodiMeadows.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Follow and Like</i> to Read More <i>Bookworm Blogger #YA</i> Reviews:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.facebook.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-41eldXiqbRc/WLAsflS3nGI/AAAAAAAACL0/fYRh5lclvX4zPin4F6OQ6bbazrhWi3QvQCLcB/s1600/facebook.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" target="_blank"><img alt="https://twitter.com/CharlottesBooks" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xOOCPtPyonQ/WLAsgDXJXVI/AAAAAAAACME/uR-ZY0ObpxoKnKFpYPfdUYSb3Q6HtgT6wCLcB/s1600/twitter.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.bloglovin.com/@bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k2nSQa2WGt4/WLAsfQtt2EI/AAAAAAAACLs/i7HybLqSSNg13BTOzepYFq2xMEJkby6hgCLcB/s1600/bloglovin.png" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5671265-charlotte-black" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57CMZYE-hIA/WLAsfZw4feI/AAAAAAAACLw/rxAzqwb37scW6sSadP6csFB9oIlWTZ9eQCLcB/s1600/goodreads.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://charlottesbooks.tumblr.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iNPAc3E-gnE/WLaPgTeMsVI/AAAAAAAACQU/9pr5431hD74GV7U4s7FPXV77JWuQdhwRwCLcB/s1600/tumblr.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" target="_blank"><img alt="https://uk.pinterest.com/bookwormblogger" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R5u7AjHsikg/WLAsgAqux6I/AAAAAAAACMA/V5K0xd5r1RYBLfCgD9Ab22qpPNgJFGHpACLcB/s1600/pinterest.png" /></a></td><td><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" target="_blank"><img alt="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101062532400721123197" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Glw_DcJpyB0/WLAsf7ldGMI/AAAAAAAACL4/477mfmtG2WMl28-EyasJIbLbSURJRbRPQCLcB/s1600/google%252B.png" /></a></td><td><a href="mailto:bwormblogger@gmail.com" target="_blank"><img alt="bwormblogger@gmail.com" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d7yo6MW1sFM/WLAsf5FdGhI/AAAAAAAACL8/A3liVzPwlAUYYluvNkBAc5wJOOiJbFU8ACLcB/s1600/mail.png" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />✤✤✤✤</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div>Charlotte Blackhttps://plus.google.com/101062532400721123197noreply@blogger.com0